Power outages, internet outages, and numerous disasters… a scenario that could occur “at any moment”
Power outages, internet outages, and numerous disasters… a scenario that could occur “at any moment”
2025-04-19 09:12
Shafaq News/ Scientists warn of the danger of a massive solar storm that could strike Earth at any moment, potentially causing numerous problems and disasters that would be felt by humans, including power outages, internet outages, satellite failures, and the disruption of clean water supplies.
Scientists estimate that if such a storm occurs, it could leave sewage treatment plants without power, while food in refrigerators and freezers would begin to spoil rapidly, according to a report published by the British newspaper, the Daily Mail.
People traveling at high altitudes in polar regions are likely to be exposed to increased radiation doses, and our protective ozone layer may suffer in the long term.
But the only positive outcome of the storm will be stunning displays of northern lights, which could be seen around the world, the newspaper says.
Matthew Owens, a professor of space physics at the University of Reading in the UK, stated that a major solar storm could cause devastation on Earth. He said, “It’s exciting for a space physicist, but worrying for an electricity grid operator.”
“If we experience a solar storm, we will see massive power outages due to transformer burnouts,” he added. “If we imagine this on a large scale, it would be very worrying. Then, it would be very difficult to restore the grid because these transformers take months to build and install.”
He continued: “If the power goes out, the internet will go out, and you will lose more basic things like clean water because pumps need power to run, and sanitation needs electricity… Even all of our food will be affected because we rely on refrigeration to provide more of our food now. So, getting food and water becomes very difficult if the power goes out for a long time.”
He explained that experts would only receive approximately 18 hours’ warning before a major storm strikes, given current capabilities. Potential repercussions include satellite disruption and financial market collapse.
He warned that the storm would have serious repercussions for the aviation sector, as communications systems would be disrupted, and passengers and crew flying at high altitudes near the poles would likely be exposed to increased levels of radiation.
The world recorded a devastating solar storm in 1859. This event, known as the Carrington Event, was the most intense geomagnetic storm ever recorded, causing stunning aurora borealis across the globe, including the tropics.
The storm caused telegraph systems to malfunction, with reports of sparks falling from telegraph machines, operators receiving electric shocks, and papers catching fire from the exploding sparks.
shafaq.com
