01.10.2022
4 min read

Solar storms can disrupt satellites and GPS - and they’re happening more often. Here’s what you need to do to prepare

Experts say we should be prepared for the harm solar storms could do to our world.

First full colour image from NASA's new space telescope

On May 23, 1967, a solar storm nearly caused nuclear war.

It was the peak of the Cold War, and the storm disrupted radar and radio communications in the US and the UK. Thinking it was the USSR disabling the systems, the US military prepared to go to war with the Soviet Union, according to research into the event.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: First full color image from NASA’s new space telescope.

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But just in time, military space weather forecasters revealed the interruptions weren’t caused by the USSR and were actually due to solar activity.

This wasn’t the only solar storm to impact Earth - and it won’t be the last, according to experts.

Solar storms - or “sun burps”, as astronomer Dr Brad Tucker calls them - are happening more frequently, and they can release up to 100,000 times more energy than all power plants on Earth can generate in a year.

In the decades since 1967, we’ve only become more reliant on satellites, radio signals and GPS systems, and experts say we should be prepared for the harm solar storms could wreak on our world.

What is a solar storm?

Tucker, an astronomer at Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, says storms are caused by sun eruptions.

“The sun is this giant, magnetic bulb, and when some of this magnetism changes, it can cause eruptions on the surface of the sun,” Tucker says.

“And when these eruptions happen, it blows out gas. We call this a coronal mass ejection.”

Some storms are so small that we don’t really notice, but others are so big they can affect life on Earth.

Occasionally these so-called “sun burps” can hit Earth directly.

The size of solar storms depends on the sun’s 11-year cycle, and Tucker says we are currently in the “broad peak of the curve”, experiencing the maximum impact of solar storms.

“So for the next three or four years, up to maybe 2025 or even a little bit beyond, we’ll be expecting more solar storms,” he says.

“This can vary anywhere from only having one or two every couple of months or a year, to one a week.”

Solar flare captured from October 2015. Credit: NASA

Are more solar storms a problem?

Satellite, communication and GPS systems play crucial roles in everyday life on Earth, and this reliance has increased since the last peak of solar storms 11 years ago.

The World Economic Forum reported 2,666 operational satellites orbited the Earth in 2020, with nearly half of them providing communication services.

The report predicts the total number of satellites could reach 15,000 by 2028.

These technological changes will mean further headaches in the event of a solar storm, Tucker says.

“We live in such a connected world that is governed by satellites, even really random things you may not think about,” he says.

“Things like internet transferring, when your computer talks to the network, it needs to be accurate to the fraction of a second, especially things like bank transfers.”

Other services and systems that may be impacted include heating and air conditioning, public transportation, and fuel distribution, according to the US government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In larger solar storms, network and satellite outages can last up to two days, if individuals and companies do not take the proper precautions and preparations, Tucker said.

“In the late eighties in Quebec, Canada ... (a solar storm) caused about $2 billion worth of damage in terms of the power system. And people were out of power for weeks.”

But it was the Carrington Event in 1859 that remains Earth’s biggest solar storm ever recorded. It not only caused tremendous damage to telegraph systems, but it also triggered auroral displays all the way down to the equator.

These auroras could have been visible from Darwin, according to Tucker.

According to Geoscience Australia, storms with the magnitude of the Carrington event are expect to occur once every 150 years.

Solar storms can cause auroras. Credit: Martial Trezzini/AP

What can be done about solar storms?

In Australia, the Space Weather Services at the Bureau of Meteorology forecast space weather - just like they do for regular weather forecasts.

Tucker says companies and individuals should monitor these forecasts and prepare themselves for potential outages, to minimise disruption.

“This is no different on Earth. If there’s a storm, it depends on your individual preparedness or company or area.

“It has to be a little bit more of a coordinated effort.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government has been preparing for other unprecedented events that could have a major impact on everyday life, including severe space weather, Tucker said.

Geoscience Australia monitors the weather in space, and provide individuals and companies with information to protect themselves from the impact of solar storms.

A solar probe will be sent on a seven year journey to examine solar storms on the suns surface.

A solar probe will be sent on a seven year journey to examine solar storms on the suns surface.

What can you do?

The US government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has tips for individuals to follow in the event of severe space weather.

Individuals should create an emergency kit, make a family communications plan, keep the car’s gas tank at least half full and keep extra batteries or external chargers for devices.

It also provides advice on what to do during and after a space weather event, such as disconnecting electrical appliances, and throwing out food after an electrical outage.

Tucker’s advice is to stay informed and be prepared, as we would for severe weather events on Earth.

“Imagine if you’re completely dependent on communications that require electricity or satellites, you could be without it. Having a radio with batteries can go a long way right?

“Make sure you’re just a little bit prepared so that you know what’s going on and you’re not cut out in the dark.”

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