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I think you all are impressed about the topic 'Solar Superstorm 2021'. Without wasting time,lets get into topic.
Our sun, is the centre of the solar system and the primary source of energy. Not only does it provide heat and light to sustain various forms of life on planet earth, but it also acts as the epicenter for all that is around itself.
What is a Solar Storm?
The Sun is composed of superheated gases called plasma surrounding a core.Even sometimes, there can be events leading to a massive heat energy across the outermost layer of the sun called the heliosphere due to a disturbance caused on its surface.These superheated heavy energy from the heliosphere is known as solar storms.Thus it affects the whole solar system.
Reason :
The Sun constantly bombards the Earth with electromagnetic particles. These particles makes the solar wind that are sent to the poles by the Earth's magnetic shield.This ultimately protects the planet from any real damage. Around every 100 years, this solar wind transforms into a full-blown solar storm. Note: As per researchers, this could have serious consequences for modern life.
Solar Storm 2021:
These solar storms are a real threat with a significant probability of affecting the networks.This could potentially destroy the infrastructure and cause an 'internet apocalypse'.
The CMEs produce geomagnetically induced currents on the earth’s surface and affect Internet cables.
These CME's produce variations in the earth’s magnetic field, which in turn induce geoelectric fields on the earth’s conducting surface.
The internet apocalypse may last for weeks or even last for months.
It is to be noted that there is a 1.6 to 12% chance of a solar storm to exist which can cause an internet apocalypse and will adversely affect our digital world completely.
Solar Superstorm-Planning for an Internet Apocalypse:
According to the study entitled Solar Superstorms reported by Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi of the University of California, Irvine and VMware Research presented at the SIGCOMM 2021 data communication conference, the upcoming solar storm will affect the internet connectivity.This study is based on Pre-planning for an Internet Apocalypse.Based on this the Sun is expected to become more active in the near future and this causes solar storm which has sufficient strength to cause catastrophic disruption occurring within the next decade.
In the conference Sangeeta pinned the statement - “Our infrastructure is not prepared for a large-scale solar event. We have very limited understanding of what the extent of the damage would be?”.
History Behind Solar Storm:
Since only three such storms have been recorded in recent history — in 1859 ,in 1921 and in 2014.
The most severe solar storm, known as the Carrington Event, was recorded in 1859.On the morning of September 1st 1859, an astronomer named Richard Carrington seen through his telescope and noted in the sky that“two patches of intensely bright and white light.” Beyond Carrington’s country estate, telegraphs were failing all over the world. As per New York Times, In America “the northern heavens were perfectly illuminated”.The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights were seen in Colombia, which falls near the equator.
Also Sangeeta told that with modery technologies the Earth will have roughly a 13-hour period to prepare for a severe solar storm.
Effects and Impacts:
➽The extent of effect would be greatly determined by the geography of the area.The USA being most vulnerable and Asia being the least susceptible to damage."The economic impact of an Internet disruption for a day in the US is estimated to be over $7 billion," Sangeeta wrote in her paper. "
➽It may also affects Satellite.
➽This would causes a massive damage to undersea cables that provide Internet connectivity between continents.
➽Longer submarine cables could be susceptible to higher risks at this time.
➽This would ultimately disrupts Polar grids,GPS,and airplane flights.
➽With modern-day systems utilising fibre optics rather than conventional current-based wires, many local Internet systems would remain unaffected and would be reconnected in alternate ways if need be.
Wait a minute, Wait a minute, Read the below content before you go out.
WHAT IF?
What if the network remains non-functional for days or even months?
It is interesting to know what our life would be like without the Internet.Would you dare to live in such a terrible situation? Let’s have a look at this terrible scenario.
Everything would be harder, more uncomfortable, more difficult and even dirtier.
1.We would have to go out on the street to do our shopping.
2.We would need to look at maps to get to the places in a life without Internet.
3.We would be much worse informed in a life without Internet.
4.We would be so very bored in a life without Internet.
5.We should be talking to people face to face in a life without internet.