Researchers have uncovered alarming evidence of devastating solar storms in our planet’s past, raising concerns about the vulnerability of our technology-dependent society. This blog explores the potential impact of these extreme events and how we can prepare for the next solar storm that could cripple our global infrastructure.
Echoes from the Past
Back in 1859, The Carrington event took place, which was a gigantic solar storm that crippled telegraph systems from Europe to North America. This is just a lesson the sun taught us all about how much of our technological society could be completely vulnerable.
But now scientists have found traces of the fact the Carrington event was only the least of what has already happened in history with larger solar storms. These extreme solar events are also characterized by the presence of levels of radioactive carbon, or carbon-14 in tree rings, a signature it seems is not documented in any history books.
The evidence reveals past solar storms that were many times stronger than the Carrington event — possibly strong enough to lead to widespread destruction throughout our modern civilization. The implications of this are game-changing for our understanding of how the sun behaves and how we can be ready for future solar storms.
The Threat to Our Technological Civilization
The devastation to the technology-driven society we have developed with a true ‘Carrington-class’ storm would be simply catastrophic. They could fry satellites, disable communication networks, and take down power lines worldwide. This could be on a scale much worse than we’ve ever seen, simply from the number of Charles River residents that must be killed.
A powerful solar storm took place right in AD774, but it was nothing like the Carrington event. Radiocarbon tells us this storm could have been a global infrastructure outage, destroying space-based networks and stranding countries without the power to communicate or navigate — and certainly the means by which to sustain current lifestyles.
Because as our society becomes more dependent on technology, that risk of these severe solar storms only grows. Such occurrences are best planned for and the ramifications of neglecting to do so could be catastrophic. Strategies need to be developed by governments, businesses and individuals that reduce the risks, maintain the essential service of our critical systems into the future.
Conclusion
The finding, then, serves as a bit of a heads-up call for modern society whose technology relies on electricity. This kind of event bear the potential to bring our global infrastructure to it´s knees — block all possible communication channels, shut down transportation and power grids. With many energy sources being placed into space to travel to the outer planets, we will eventually have a fuel for our starship that goes pop at inconvenient times in the solar system if unprepared. To protect our civilization against this looming threat from the sky, we will need to invest in hardening our critical systems, investing in early warning systems, and cooperating with other nations on this crucial front of maintaining the resilience of our civilization.
