How space weather impacts us: A look at some of the worst solar storms in history
Last week, the sun unleashed the strongest solar flare of the year, emitting a burst of radiation and light that caused brief radio blackouts on the sunlit side of Earth. While the X-class solar flare went largely unnoticed by the general public, the potential impacts of such solar events are significant and can have far-reaching consequences.
Geomagnetic storms and other forms of space weather that often follow solar flares have the ability to disrupt power grids, interfere with aircraft routes, disrupt global communications and GPS systems, and damage satellites and spacecraft. The potential for such events to occur is not just a theoretical possibility – history has shown us that it can and has happened before.
One of the most notable events in solar history occurred on September 1, 1859, known as the Carrington Event. Amateur astronomers Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson witnessed a massive flare of light from the sun’s surface, followed by a geomagnetic storm that struck Earth within a day. This event caused dazzling displays of aurora borealis and knocked out telegraph systems across Europe and North America.
The 1859 geomagnetic storm was likely caused by one or more coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive eruptions of solar material that can travel through space at incredible speeds. When these CMEs interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can spark geomagnetic storms that disrupt critical infrastructure, as seen in the telegraph systems of 1859.
In more recent history, the solar storm of 1989 in Canada caused a province-wide blackout in Quebec, leaving millions without power for nine hours. This event serves as a benchmark for understanding the potential impacts of solar storms on modern technological systems.
While it has been over two decades since a significant solar storm has caused widespread disruptions, experts are keeping a close eye on solar activity as we are currently within the period of solar maximum, the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle. With increasing dependence on technologies like GPS for navigation, the potential for disruption from space weather is a real concern.
Canada, due to its proximity to the northern magnetic pole, is particularly vulnerable to space weather events. However, this also means that Canada is in a prime position to observe and forecast such events accurately, helping to mitigate potential impacts and ensure the resilience of critical infrastructure.
As we move forward in an increasingly technological world, understanding and preparing for the potential impacts of solar storms will be crucial in safeguarding our systems and infrastructure against the power of the sun.
