Largest solar flare in five years races toward Earth

[Aaltrude]

08/03/2012
Stuff.co.nz

The largest solar flare in five years is racing toward Earth, threatening to unleash a torrent of charged particles that could disrupt power grids, GPS and flights.
The sun erupted on Tuesday, and the effects should start smacking Earth later tonight, according to forecasters at the US Space Weather Prediction Center. They say the flare is growing as it speeds outward from the sun.
"It's hitting us right in the nose," said Joe Kunches, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The solar storm was likely to last through Friday, but the region that erupted could still send more blasts our way, Kunches said.

Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/6543062/Largest-solar-flare-in-five-years-races-toward-Earth

[StephenX]

Imagine no TV, no computers, empty grocery stores, no utilities, closed banks and no gasoline. This is what would happen if the grid took a big hit from a CME (coronal mass ejection). Zombie apocalypse. Not looking for brains; but desperate mindless people looking for food and water, completely at a loss as to what to do. Are you ready? We are. I am not some wacko alarmist; but an old Eagle Scout...."be prepared"...sempre paratus.

[Aaltrude]

Add to this list Stephen that nuclear power plants require electricity to cool the plants. If the grid went down, there is the potential nuclear accidents arising at power plants as a result of lack of power to the cooling units.

[Islander]

Addressing Aaltrude's concern: I think installations worldwide have learned from Fukushima. Emergency generators are primed and ready, and power interruptions via solar flare will not drown them.
We had a similar flare what? a week ago? ten days? Two weeks? I was able to see the Northern Lights on the peak night, but that was all, folks. There's an asteroid on its way in 11 months that might mess up your day if you were in the strike zone but is hardly an extinction event. A papa bear asteroid, double the size of this one, is heading our way in 2040 but your grandchildren have plenty of time to prepare for that one.
So move along, folks, nothing to see here. As Stephen says — be prepared.

[highlander]

Hmmm...need a hand pump of that superb well of ours.

[Islander]

Voice of experience: 5-gallon buckets make acceptable composting toilets if you have a little sawdust or whatever on hand. Water can be stored in advance. Some people fill washer & bathtub. Just a few thoughts from a 5-day power outage we had during a prolonged ice storm.

[Pattypans]

Hmmm...need a hand pump of that superb well of ours. Hand pump sounds very good, sensible, and useful, Highlander. By the way, did I ever tell you I like your name? Is it literal (as in Scottish, or from some other highlands) or figurative?

[highlander]

Hand pump sounds very good, sensible, and useful, Highlander. By the way, did I ever tell you I like your name? Is it literal (as in Scottish, or from some other highlands) or figurative?

Both. I'm of Scottish descent and live in the Rocky Mountains. I'm also a fan of the Highlander movies.
(and thank you. :))

[Islander]

And isn't that a Highlander breed of cow in your avatar?

[highlander]

And isn't that a Highlander breed of cow in your avatar?

Yes -- Highland cattle "or kyloe are a Scottish breed ... with long horns and long wavy coats ... known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds." (Wikipedia)
I see a few in pastures here. I think they're uber cute with their emo bangs.

[wr7476]

I think I'm a little confused on the date. Is this current or future?

[Aaltrude]

This is current.

[Islander]

WR, it's part of an 11-year solar cycle expected to peak next year. This one is expected to arrive early today (Thursday) and can disrupt power grids, satellites, oil pipelines and high-accuracy GPS systems used by oil drillers, surveyors and some agricultural operations. GPS systems in your car will not be affected. Look for the aurora tonight — should be visible even at lower latitudes.

[Aaltrude]

I looked but no dice here. Not quite far enough south.