Scientists have been involved in observing the sun and analyzing its heats role in the different seasons experienced by earth since centuries. During one of these studies, scientists stumbled upon the potential solar flares or solar storms that are predicted to take place in the year 2012. After monitoring the sun’s movement patterns since 11 years scientists have concluded that there is a very good chance that we might experience a full blown solar storm that might affect people living on earth. The first solar flares incident took place in 2003. But this event took place without drawing any attention from the people around the world. However, the predicted 2012 solar storm may not go unnoticed this time around.
Solar flares, as the name suggests, as solar storms that take place on the sun’s surface. The result of these storms is an eruption of intense high energy radiation. A similar incident took place in 1859. During that solar storm, many telegraph wires were damaged. In addition to this at the same time of the solar flares widespread erupted in many parts of the United States and in Europe. The reason for these fires were not explainable and the only plausible reason that could be concluded was that the solar flares caused the fires.
There are thousands of satellites orbiting the earth to send us information regarding everything that happens in outer space. Technology has reached a level that was unthinkable during the 80’s. Governments around the world have invested millions in setting up space stations that are present beyond the atmosphere to record and inform us of events that happen beyond the earth’s surface that have a potential affect on earth. In addition to this, there are hundreds of satellites that are set up to facilitate easy communication between people from all over the world. The National Academy of Sciences had performed several studies and have found that the solar flares can have a huge impact in damaging many of these satellites and space stations that have been set up by man. Such damage can results in loss in millions and loss in technology and communication.
Scientists who have intensively studied solar flares say that this event happens almost every decade. People from all over the world need to be kept informed and have to know how to act to be prepared for the solar storm. There are huge risks that we might be facing like the loss of lives of astronauts who are in space and the loss of the thousands of satellites that make our lives easier everyday. One of the major concerns that scientists have is the affect the solar flares will have on power grids. If the solar flares manage to disable and rupture the power grids on earth, then more than 130 million people in the US alone will be affected. This is counting only one continent. The affect it will have on the rest of the world is unthinkable and we can only be aware and be informed about what precautions we need to take to ensure that the whole event occurs as smoothly as possible