Solar energy reaches its peak and internet outages are expected for several weeks at the beginning of 2024

2023-12-03 2023-12-03T09:16:56Z

Arabia Weather - It is highly expected that the upcoming solar storms will be extremely powerful, threatening the disruption of the Internet globally for periods of up to several weeks, as scientists have warned of the effects of these expected solar phenomena, indicating that the Internet may face major challenges and long outages.

If the Internet is cut off even for a short period in homes, this can be very annoying, and it gets worse if there is an urgent need to use it, so it can be imagined how these challenges will multiply when Internet connections are disrupted throughout the planet or when major problems are encountered.

Although this scenario may sound like the plot of a thriller, it is a realistic possibility according to the analysis of scientists who study solar activity, as the Sun follows an 11-year life cycle known as the solar maximum, during which the solar surfaces are experiencing an increase in the appearance of dark spots. The presence of these dark spots leads to the release of violent explosive energy that affects the planet, resulting in changes in the sun's magnetic field.

Conflicting expectations... Will the solar maximum begin in 2025 or 2024?

NASA has predicted the start of the next solar maximum in late 2025 , however, a new study led by Dr. Dibyendu Nandy, a physicist from the IISER Kolkata Center of Excellence in Space Science in India, has pointed to a solar event occurring in early 2024.

Speaking to Mail Online, he said:

“It is not possible to predict the intensity and consequences of solar storms this early, but we should learn more as the new year approaches.”

He added:

“More intense storms can sometimes lead to catastrophic orbital decay of low-Earth orbit satellites and disrupt satellite-based services such as communications and navigation networks.”

These forecasts indicate the possibility of disrupting many of the technological tools that we use daily. He concluded with optimism, noting that the year 2024 may be a good period for aurora hunters, despite the potential challenges. Nandy pointed out the complexity of the timing of the occurrence of the most severe solar storms, considering that it is difficult to predict this accurately. He explained the difference between his study and NASA's predictions, explaining that individual solar cycles can change in length between nine and 14 years, and that 11 years is just an "average periodicity" determined by the average of the individual periods of all solar cycles in the modern era.

What is a "solar storm"?

In light of the prominent climate changes in our modern era, new forms of this change are emerging, the most prominent of which is the phenomenon known as “solar storms.” Solar activities, especially this type, are considered one of the most dangerous effects, as they cause the release of high-speed particles into interplanetary space.

The phenomenon is also called a “geomagnetic storm,” and it represents a major part of space weather, as the vibration of a solar wind or magnetic field cloud generates these storms and interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Space scientists define powerful solar storms, also known as coronal mass ejections, as massive explosions composed of solar wind, light plasma, and magnetic fields that rise above the solar corona, which can cause damage to electrical grids and even prolonged power outages.

Solar storms first increase the pressure of the solar wind on the magnetosphere, as the wind's magnetic field interacts with the Earth's magnetic field, transferring increasing amounts of energy into the magnetosphere.

The strength of a solar storm is measured by a scale known as the K-index , which measures disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field and ranges from 0 to 9.

Last May, NASA announced that the Earth was exposed to a powerful solar storm, moving at a speed exceeding 1.3 million kilometers per hour, according to the “Space Weather” website, which is an automated program specialized in monitoring the movement of comets, solar storms, and space activities.

The threat of solar storms...the possibility of their impact on modern technology

In 2015, solar storms shook GPS systems in the northeastern United States, which today is of particular concern due to the presence of self-driving cars and their impact on airline pilots. The Astronomical Society in Jeddah announced that the Earth will be exposed to a geomagnetic storm in October 2021.

This type of storm causes radio interference and increases loads on power grids and satellite electronics. Astronomy researcher, Mulham Hindi, confirms that despite the dangers of solar storms, the Earth is still reassured by its current levels, and points out that its impact on technology depends on magnetic and atmospheric protection.

The impact of solar storms on humanity... from psychological effects to market trading

Some scientists point out negative effects of geomagnetic storms on humans, as mood changes and behavioral shifts occur as a result of biochemical changes in the body. Other studies show higher rates of depression and suicide during periods of increased solar storms.

In addition to the psychological impact, solar storms appear to have an economic impact, as a decrease in stock market performance is associated with periods of increased solar activity, and a study by the US Central Bank branch in 2003 indicates that solar storms can affect the behavior of traders and market traders.

Solar storms are also considered a threat to modern infrastructure, as they can lead to disruptions in global supply chains, and impacts on the navigation and communications system, including the Internet and positioning technologies. According to research conducted by Sangeetha Jyoti, solar storms can lead to Internet outages for long periods. Which poses a challenge to modern technology.

Historically, instances such as a solar storm in 1989 have shown a significant impact, causing power outages in areas of northeastern Canada. As Internet infrastructure advances, the potential impact of solar storms on human lives is increasing.