‘Internet apocalypse’: a severe solar storm could force the world to disconnect for weeks, even months

A new study has warned that a super-solar storm, which occurs once in about a century, could plunge the world into an “Internet apocalypse,” keeping large areas of society offline for weeks or even months. . The Sun constantly bombards the Earth with electromagnetic particles. These particles, which produce the solar wind, are usually sent to the poles by the Earth’s magnetic shield that protects the planet from any real damage. About every 100 years, this solar wind turns into a full solar storm, according to researchers, which could have serious consequences for modern life.

The study entitled ‘Solar Superpowers: Planning an Internet Apocalypse’ was presented at the SIGCOMM 2021 data communication conference. Its author, Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi, of the University of California, Irvine, writes that Modern technology coincided with a period of weak solar activity and the Sun is expected to be more active in the near future.

Scientists estimate that the probability of an extreme space climate directly affecting the Earth will be between 1.6 and 12% in the next decade. According to the research, the regional infrastructure of the Internet would have a low risk of damage even in a massive solar storm, as the optical fiber is not affected by geomagnetically induced currents. But the risk is greater for long submarine cables. If a solar storm disrupts a number of these cables, it could lead to disruption of connectivity between countries, even leaving local infrastructure intact.

“Our infrastructure is not ready for a large-scale solar event. We have a very limited understanding of how much damage would be done, “Abdu Jyothi told Wired. .

For a strong solar storm, the Earth will have about 13 hours to prepare, Abdu Jyothi added. Only two such storms have been recorded in recent history: in 1859 and 1921.