Martial law, mass starvation and societal collapse
Since the sun's last upheaval caused worldwide disruption and destruction in 1859, civilization has rapidly advanced a society based on a technological infrastructure that can be whisked away in moments by a severe geomagnetic storm. [3]
Similar in many respects to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can be employed as a weapon to rip away the technology of an enemy country during warfare, massive solar flares achieve the same effect by shorting out electrical circuits, burning wiring, overloading generators and zapping computer processors.
As one heliophysicist recently remarked, the underlying emotion of space experts is one of "frenetic calm."
Back in 2008, the National Academy of Sciences issued their dire report: "Severe Space Weather Events--Societal and Economic Impacts." The report outlined, in excruciating detail, the potential demise of America's 21st Century technological base--and the resulting havoc to the economy and society. [4]
It spelled out how people in the first world countries rely heavily upon technologies at risk from solar storms--a technology that empowers financial systems, electrical power grids, water plants, air travel, farming, transportation, GPS navigation of aircraft and sea going vessels...even the daily operation of government at all levels.
After the solar blast all most communication will fail; power will fail. [5] Cities will be left without light, water and food will run out. Civil unrest will become rampant as society collapses in a matter of days. The federal and state governments will be hard-pressed to restore order amongst 300 million people as mass starvation begins and sources of potable water dwindle.
Restoration of the infrastructure could take years, even a decade or more. During the interim a billion people could die--more if warfare breaks out between countries desperate for resources.
This time around the sun's fury could bring technological Armageddon: the near total failure of 21st Century technology leading to the total collapse of the financial infrastructure and subsequently the entire Western economy.
And because we've painted ourselves into a technological corner, there's not a damn thing anyone can do to stop it.
[1] "The solar storm of August 28 - September 2, 1859," Space Weather
[2] "The Third Depression"
[3] "Geo-magnetic storms"
[4] "Severe Space Weather--Social and Economic Impacts" NASA
[5] "Areas of probable power system collapse" NASA
More here
Since the sun's last upheaval caused worldwide disruption and destruction in 1859, civilization has rapidly advanced a society based on a technological infrastructure that can be whisked away in moments by a severe geomagnetic storm. [3]
Similar in many respects to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can be employed as a weapon to rip away the technology of an enemy country during warfare, massive solar flares achieve the same effect by shorting out electrical circuits, burning wiring, overloading generators and zapping computer processors.
As one heliophysicist recently remarked, the underlying emotion of space experts is one of "frenetic calm."
It spelled out how people in the first world countries rely heavily upon technologies at risk from solar storms--a technology that empowers financial systems, electrical power grids, water plants, air travel, farming, transportation, GPS navigation of aircraft and sea going vessels...even the daily operation of government at all levels.
After the solar blast all most communication will fail; power will fail. [5] Cities will be left without light, water and food will run out. Civil unrest will become rampant as society collapses in a matter of days. The federal and state governments will be hard-pressed to restore order amongst 300 million people as mass starvation begins and sources of potable water dwindle.
Restoration of the infrastructure could take years, even a decade or more. During the interim a billion people could die--more if warfare breaks out between countries desperate for resources.
This time around the sun's fury could bring technological Armageddon: the near total failure of 21st Century technology leading to the total collapse of the financial infrastructure and subsequently the entire Western economy.
And because we've painted ourselves into a technological corner, there's not a damn thing anyone can do to stop it.
[1] "The solar storm of August 28 - September 2, 1859," Space Weather
[2] "The Third Depression"
[3] "Geo-magnetic storms"
[4] "Severe Space Weather--Social and Economic Impacts" NASA
[5] "Areas of probable power system collapse" NASA
More here
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