Solar Storm Warning
AC5ZO
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 928 Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Pics |
2003-10-28 67364
There is a solar storm headed toward Earth that is about the same size as the one that knocked out a part of the Canadian power grid a few years ago. They cannot tell how bad it will be till they can check the magnetic field alignment, but it might be useful to disconnect any sensitive electronic equipment before it hits here tomorrow.
Link: Space.com Solar Flare
 
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Solar Storm Warning
Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL Pics |
2003-10-28 67373
Could play havic on the ham radios. I surged the whole house do we need anything else. Will not a high EMP damage chips not connected too? ....
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Solar Storm Warning
AC5ZO
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 928 Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Pics |
2003-10-29 67400
I would disconnect any radio equipment for Wednesday or perhaps Thursday when it is due to hit. Any sensitive electronics that can be disconnected from the powerlines should be disconnected.
This is more of a magnetic storm rather than an ElectroMagnetic Pulse, so inactive electronic items should be OK. Long runs of wire like electric fences could be affected.
This is the third worst storm ever recorded. The worst was in 1859 and that storm shorted out telegraph lines and started fires.
The effect is variable depending on the alignment of the magnetic field of the storm compared to the magnetic field of the earth. ....
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Solar Storm Warning
AC5ZO
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 928 Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Pics |
2003-10-29 67425
It looks like the storm hit the earth a few hours ago and was aligned in such a way as to cause minimal damage. We dodged a bullet this time. The storm was at least as strong as the storm that knocked out the Canandian power grid in 1989, but in that case, the magnetic fields did not align in a favorable orientation. ....
Link: Solar Flare creates G5 storm
 
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Solar Storm Warning
kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon Pics |
2003-10-29 67450
It may be coincidental, but our power just went out. West Oregon Electric Coop says their power from the Bonneville Power Administration was interrupted, but they don't yet know why. We get interruptions every few seeks so I'm not chalking it up to solar flares just yet. No ETA on repair yet. ....
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Solar Storm Warning
kadorken
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 67 Canada |
2003-10-30 67515
My understanding of the the canadian power grid problem a few years ago was the long transmission lines between cut off points that Hydro Quebec had at the time. The solar interference induced voltage surges and when Hydro quebec had to shut down sections to isolate the overvoltage, they couldn't contain the 'sections' in small enough areas and ended up with blackouts. I believe they have since analyzed and reallocated how their transmission grid works to reduce the likelihood of a repeat. ....
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Solar Storm Warning
AC5ZO
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 928 Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Pics |
2003-10-30 67570
I am sure that they have made improvements in the area that blacked out. But, improving one area has the tendency to shift damage to the next weakest point. There are still plenty of problems as we recently saw with the cascading blackout a few weeks ago.
So Quebec took a hit in 89 and this year it could have been Montana, who knows? I hear about these things because of my ham radio work, but this was something to be concerned about. We got lucky this time. I think that the last of the CME cloud is past earth by now and there has been little damage. ....
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Solar Storm Warning
blizzard
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 282 Central Maine Pics |
2003-10-31 67601
Between sbout 7 and 8 (EST) last night, there was an absolutely gorgeous aurora display here in Maine. Centered about where the sun was at noon, it stretched east and west to the horizon. Did anyone see similar atmospheric effects?
Otherwise, no problems, computer even stayed up!
bliz ....
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