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Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle
An anonymous reader pointed us at a post on the Physorg blog, which discusses the possibility of an upcoming period of intense solar weather. We've discussed this before, but increasingly the evidence looks like 'Solar Cycle 24' (due to start in 2010 or so) is going to make life interesting here on earth. From the post: "Hathaway explains: 'When a gust of solar wind hits Earth's magnetic field, the impact causes the magnetic field to shake. If it shakes hard enough, we call it a geomagnetic storm.' In the extreme, these storms cause power outages and make compass needles swing in the wrong direction. Auroras are a beautiful side-effect. Hathaway and Wilson looked at records of geomagnetic activity stretching back almost 150 years and noticed something useful:. 'The amount of geomagnetic activity now tells us what the solar cycle is going to be like 6 to 8 years in the future,' says Hathaway."
Check out NOAA webpage about this. The most affect areas are going to be the sunlid areas of the planet. But see more here, http://www.sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/index.html
Well, the poles tend to see a lot of magnetic activity, for obvious reasons. Given this, I'd say that if you want the least effects, the equatorial regions are where to be.
Having said that, I'd like to point out that (due to the scale of these things) they're global events. If a big flare heads our way, it could cause global disruptions. A big flare could effectively disrupt global radio communications, as well as wipe out multiple sattelites. Power grid hits are also a possibility.
If you are thinking about heading for greener pastures to avoid this thing, my advice to you is not to bother. If you're REALLY worried, get some power filtering equipment/UPSes and a backup generator.
If you aren't worried...well, I have it on good authority that (if the weather is right) being out on the water during these events can be very spectacular. I had a relative who was out on one of the great lakes during calm weather, and according to him the aurora was spectacular. The smooth water reflected the lights overhead. Personally, I plan on heading north to see the show.
Fill in your four or five-letter word of wisdom here _ _ _ _ _.
A quick google tells me the sun reverses magnetic field every 22 years. 11 is in the middle, guess that is why but not fully. So we shift that question upstream one notch as to the "why?" part. source : http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/activit y/solar_cycle.html
t ml
I also just found out this NASA solar division lost funding
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.sh
I enjoyed the aurora last week. They were so intense, they were bright even to the south of me. Photos at the link in my signature if you're curious. I've animated them too.
Oh You POS