A solar storm that appeared as a “big fire” in 1582 could hit Earth again this century, causing billions of damage and destroying power grids around the world, experts warn.
- A solar storm hit the Earth in 1582 that looked like a “big fire” in the sky
- The storm lasted three days and spread from Europe to East Asia
- Today the storm would cause global blackouts and billions of damage
- The storm of 1582 is said to happen every century, suggesting that the Earth is due
The “great fire” appeared in the sky over dozens of cities in Europe and Asia in 1582 and eyewitnesses to this solar storm have recently been discovered.
Scientists at Cornell University found observations from eyewitnesses who reported a “burning red screen in the sky” that lasted three days, while another said that “rays of fire arose over the castle, that they were terrible and fearsome. “
People of that time were unaware that the event was a massive solar storm, but current astronomers use storms to help predict future solar activity.
The solar storm that hit the Earth on March 8, 1582 is comparable to those of 1909 and 1989, which suggest that they are “a single occurrence in the century and” one or two can be expected in the 21st century. ” .
If such an intense solar storm affected our modern world, it would cause billions of dollars in damage and destroy power grids around the world.
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In 1582 a “great fire” appeared in the sky over dozens of cities in Europe and Asia in 1582 and eyewitnesses of this solar storm have been discovered. People at this time were unaware that the event was a massive solar storm, but current astronomers use storms to help predict future solar activity (stock image)
Extreme space weather or solar storms occur when the sun shoots hot boiling plasma in the form of solar flares and winds.
While most solar storms are usually harmless, one large enough to hit the Earth could have catastrophic effects.
But Ruiz Soares, an eyewitness to the solar storm of 1582, wrote: “All that part of the sky appeared burned in flames of fire; it seemed that the sky was burning ».
Nobody remembered seeing something like that … At midnight, great rays of fire arose over the castle, which were terrible and frightening.
Scientists at Cornell University found observations from eyewitnesses who reported a “burning red screen in the sky” that lasted three days, while another said that “rays of fire arose over the castle, that they were terrible and fearsome. ” Photography accounts are displayed during the three-day event
The solar storm that occurred in 1909 is said to have been one of the most intense of the 20th century. According to Japanese auroral records, the color bluish began to appear first, followed by the color reddish
“The next day, the same thing happened at the same time, but it wasn’t so fantastic and terrifying. Everyone went to the field to see this big sign.
The solar storm that hit 1909 is said to have been one of the most intense of the 20th century, as Universe Today first reported.
It exhibited violent levels of geomagnetic disturbances, caused widespread interference in telegraph systems, and brought spectacular auroras into the night sky.
Historical records show that it affected the Earth on September 9, which appeared as a shock wave of the solar wind that was later related to the plasma ejection of an active sunspot.
According to Japanese auroral records, the color bluish began to appear first, followed by the color reddish.
A more recent event that could have ended in fatalities occurred in 1973 (pictured). It happened during the Apollo era, when the solar storm exploded on Earth that August, but fortunately the astronauts exploring the moon that year had returned home a few months earlier.
And it interrupted telegraphic communications at medium or low latitudes.
About 89 years later, a “moderately large” storm was observed that brought down Quebec’s electricity grid.
The study also highlights “the Carrington event in 1859, which is considered one of the most extreme space meteorological events reported,” researchers wrote in the study in archive.
A more recent event that could have ended in fatalities occurred in 1973.
It happened during the Apollo era when that August shot the solar storm, but fortunately the astronauts exploring the moon that year had returned home a few months earlier.
The team hopes to use this data to develop better prediction models, as more humans travel into space, specifically when NASA plans a mission to the moon in 2024.
WHAT IS THE EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD AND HOW DOES IT PROTECT US?
The Earth’s magnetic field is a layer of electric charge that surrounds our planet.
The field protects life on our planet because it deflects sun-charged particles known as “solar wind.”
Without this protective layer, these particles would probably remove the ozone layer, our only line of defense against harmful UV radiation.
The Earth’s magnetic field (blue) is a layer of electric charge that surrounds our planet. The field protects life on our planet because it deflects sun-charged particles (orange) known as “solar wind” (artist’s impression)
Scientists believe that the Earth’s core is responsible for creating its magnetic field.
When iron melts from the Earth’s outer core it escapes creating convection currents.
These currents generate electric currents that create the magnetic field in a natural process known as a geodynamic.