Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Julie Woods on 05/05/2010 20:30:02
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Julie Woods asked the Naked Scientists:
Could an electromagnetic pulse (emp) be caused by any type of solar activity, and if so, could any type of emp be harmful to humans or any other species on earth?
What do you think?
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A coronal mass ejection can disrupt electrical power supplies and communications ...
When the ejection reaches the Earth as an ICME (Interplanetary CME), it may disrupt the Earth's magnetosphere, compressing it on the day side and extending the night-side magnetic tail. When the magnetosphere reconnects on the nightside, it creates trillions of watts of power which is directed back toward the Earth's upper atmosphere... CME events, along with solar flares, can disrupt radio transmissions, cause power outages (blackouts), and cause damage to satellites and electrical transmission lines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_mass_ejections#Impact_of_a_CME
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You BETCHAH!
The largest solar flare recorded took place in the middle of the 1800's. By all reports it was one SOB. Aurora Borealis at Miami Beach. Set telegraph stations of fire from hither and yon. In modern times lesser flares have triggered electric grid fuzes and breakers, and even screwed up one or two satelites.
Hard to say what that 1800's thing would do today. You might wish for a horse....