CAN YOU IMAGINE A SINGLE CATASTROPHIC EVENT WHICH WOULD TEST MANKIND?
I am not a scientist, so obviously I sourced the facts in this post from credible online sites.
"This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life." Psalm 119.50
"In the twinkle of the eye" . . . Solar flares are sudden releases of energy from the surface of the sun. Solar flares release the equivalent energy of millions of hydrogen bombs. The energy of a flare is primarily released in the form of electromagnetic radiation and sent out in radio waves, visible light, gamma rays and other types of waves traveling at the speed of light that can reach earth if pointed our way.
The "Carrington Event" was an intense solar flare that caused the strongest geomagnetic storm in Earth's recorded history. It happened in September 1859 and caused sparking and even fires in multiple telegraph stations.
In the mid-1800's, the world's dependence on electrical devices and systems that could be disabled by a geomagnetic storm was extremely limited. Today, it is the total opposite.
Geomagnetic storms are disturbances in Earth's magnetic field caused by powerful eruptions of material from the sun called coronal mass ejections (CME). CME'S produce solar flares, powerful flashes of light and other radiation which in turn causes a geomagnetic disturbance here on earth. Think of a geomagnetic disturbance as a giant global Electro Magnet Pulse (EMP).
An EMP creates a powerful electromagnetic field capable of short-circuiting a wide range of electronic equipment, particularly computers, satellites, radios, radar receivers and even civilian traffic lights.
CME eruptions occur all the time on the sun. Both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have scales to measure the strength of Geomagnetic Storms. Like Earthquake scales, each level is a logarithmic magnitude (10x, 100x) stronger than previous level. On NOAA's "G scale" rating system which goes from 1 to 5, with G1 being minor and G5 being extreme, the Carrington Event would have been rated G5.
The sun's solar cycle runs in roughly an 11-year period during which the sun's eruption activity rises and falls. The Carrington Event took place in Solar Cycle 10. We're now in Solar Cycle 25.
The solar cycle we are in began in December 2019 and will reach the cycle's peak, known as the "solar maximum," between November 2024 and March 2026—and most likely July 2025. Meaning that for the next few years we can expect the number of CMEs and solar flares to increase.
Scientists think we barely escaped getting hit by huge solar storm at least as strong as the Carrington
Event back in July 2012.
If a solar event on the scale of the Carrington Event were to happen today it could lead to power loss for a period of weeks or more and have cost of over $2 trillion in damage. Power loss is not all. A large percentage of modern automobiles would shut down. So would GPS navigation systems. Planes in the sky would be in big trouble! I shutter to think what might happen to people on life support situations that depend on the electric grid. It is one thing to switch to back-up power for few hours or even a couple days, and another to run it for weeks or months. That is assuming you can find gas to supply generators.
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My Righteous right hand." Isaiah 41.10
The worst effect of such a catastrophic failure could be the mayhem that would ensue. Imagine Chicago, Newark, Los Angeles and all cities across the USA and elsewhere without electricity, communications, computers and much more for multiple weeks. There would be total lawlessness!
"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the Salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today." Exodus 14 13
With satellites and radar disabled, how would paranoid superpower military leaders react? One mistep could trigger a nuclear holocaust.
The world is practically worshipping renewable electricity. I wonder if our hearts are being hardened against the fossil fuels that God stored within the earth.
One thing is for sure -- A Carrington level geomagnetic storm today would certainly be a test that would bring out the worst and the best in mankind.
What is the likelihood of catastrophic solar flares hitting earth? In a 2011 report, the Canadian National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, said models predict a 50 percent chance that a catastrophically large solar flare will occur "within several decades." Many other credible scientists have issued serious dire predictions and emphasized the need for nations to "harden their electrical grids."
The Sun's solar cycle activity is measured by the number of sunspots on its surface. Scientists started officially tracking solar cycles and have been counted sunspots since 1755.
The Sun is now more active than NASA previously predicted. Scientists are saying the current Solar Cycle could be the strongest cycle since records began. The Director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, Nicola Fox posted “The Sun’s activity has quickly ramped up and even though we haven’t reached peak levels in this cycle, the Sun’s activity is already exceeding predictions.”
In case you're wondering how much advance notice mankind would have that a solar eruption was coming our way, it takes just over 8 minutes for the radiation of a solar flare to reach earth.
The solar flare wouldn't kill us, but what follows could seem like the worst scenes from a thriller movie.
Even after giving this some thought, it is hard to reach a conclusion on what to do to prepare for another "G5." But it seems that there are some plans and precautions for personal security that one could take for themselves and their family. No?
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." Proverbs 29.25
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23.4
P.S. The subject of this blog post was just written about in more depth on the LiveScience website.
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