One of the World's most biggest Disaster (Solar Flare??) Can Someone enlighten me on this matter?

Question

I saw this really interesting TV program in Discovery Channel today.
They say that the magnetic wave from the Sun will cause a huge effect on how we live, and it can bring one of the biggest disaster to the Earth. For Example it can cause black out in the major cities on the Earth...etc so we won't be able to use electricity for many months or maybe many years.

the term I heared is something like "CME"
I do not know what it stands for.

Can we predict when the "wave" heat the earth?
and how should we prepared for it in case it happenes?

Answer 1

To start off, CME stands for Coronal Mass Ejection. When this occurs massive amounts of electrons and protons (and sometimes other materials such as hydrogen, and helium) are ejected from the Sun. This ejection occurs when a large amount of plasma (essentially superheated material from within the Sun) receives a large enough push from within the Sun to escape the instense gravity of the Sun. The energy required for this is essentially a large explosion. CME's occur quite regularly, but frequency depends upon the solar cycle. During solar minimum one CME occurs every other day, and five to six a day will occur during solar maximum. Thankfully we have begun learning more about CME in part to spacecraft orbiting the Earth and studying the Sun. Their clear and nearly constant watch over the Sun has resulted in a way to predict when a CME may be heading to Earth by detecting electrons surging ahead of the coming storm, and by watching for telltale signs of an impending CME on the surface of the Sun. However, prediction times are limited to roughly 24 hours. Additionally the observed speeds of CME's varies depending upon the intensity of the event, making predicted impact times difficult to calculate accurately. But we are learning, and one day we may have a better model for Sun activity and may be able to predict events days in advance.

For now all we can do is be prepared. As with all disasters have a ready supply of food and water sufficient enough for a week or so. Batteries and other emergency/cooking supplies would be advised as well. You're not preparing for the end of the world though, just enough to get by until authorities can restore utilities. I think the many years scenario may have been a bit of Hollywood exaggeration, or creative thinking.

Answer 2

We are presently bombarded with a continuous wave of all sorts of X Ray and Gamma Ray radiation by the Sun. Most of that energy is blocked by our atmosphere, and only a little seeps through to us. When Solar Flares occur, all sorts of radio propagation here on Earth is degraded and/or interrupted. The US National Bureau of Standards issues solar noise and radio propagation forecasts for the entire USA on a regular basis based upon observations of the Sun.
So we can tell in advance how severe these solar storms of radiation will be.

Protection against these current variety of storms includes hardwiring of communications busses using glass fibre communications conductors and modulated light transmitters and receivers. Further precautions might involve the construction of underground habitats and bunkers, or some other form of metallic shielding of existing structures. It is fairly certain that people would not want to wander out and about during one of these events.

Answer 3

First this phenomenon occurs many times on the surface of the sun, and yes it can disrupt power grids! But not in the way we may think of! First its influences on the power grid will depends on the size of such grid and its surface exposition to the sun flare. In early 90`s my whole province was sent into a general black out caused by a sun flare, and it appears that it affect only our province, because our power grid is extending on a very wide area (the largest in the world actually), as our electricity was coming from very far away hydro-electric dams. Such grids are working a little bit like a spider web, the largest the web is, the more it will catch, so the grid that occupy such volumes will get hit easily by sun flares. Also, such flares affect only a part of the planet, not all of it at the same time. But the real effects of such solar flares are not the flares in themselves but the magnetic storms they are causing, will cause REAL long terms damages to our planet. Its simple to understand, our planet is made like a giant dynamo, and any magnetic fields that interact with our planet magnetic field, affect the internal dynamic of our planet core, that in turn affect the whole convections system of the planet. So eventually, it could reach the surface and trigger an higher than normal seismic and volcanic activities. Actually the birth of super volcano is suspected to be directly link with the sun magnetic storms activities, and as I know, we are way overdue to get one...

Answer 4

Are they POSSIBLE? yes, but not very. The earths magnetic field and atmosphere protect us from all bu the most violent. Are they PROBABLE? NO! There has NEVER been a solar flare disaster in the last 5,000 years! The magnetic field and atmosphere actually WORK!! It is very UNLIKELY that one will occur THIS year. or next, or the year after that, even.

Answer 5

CME stands for Coronal Mass Ejection - basically the equivalent to the sun "burping", if you will. I saw the program you are referring to, and the point they were making is that it is possible for the sun to emit a coronal mass ejection that is powerful enough to cause significant problems on earth. It is not clear, however, when this may happen, or even if it will happen in the next 100, 1000, or even 100,000 years.

Answer 6

CME stands for coronal mass ejection. Yes, these and solar flares (which are related) have caused blackouts before. However, we've never recorded one that could do nearly that much damage as you've described. Really, I think they were just trying to scare you. Most people never notice. It disrupts some communications satellites, so your cell phone service might get patchy for a few months.

Answer 7

A large solar flare can, and has caused major problems with radio communication and electrical power lines on Earth, there is not much we can do about it except to design things that are not as easily affected by this phenomena.

Answer 8

its a dynamic helium core reaction that occurs in time. It happens between the corona and chromosphere.. It is also initiated by the electromagnetic spectrum pulse..

Answer 9

george w. bush

Answer 10

metior crash