-
Question
I was reading some NASA articles when I found one from 2006 (Here's the article: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/10mar_stormwarning.html), talking about a massive solar storm that will hit the earth in 2011 or 2012, it wasn't certain. My question is, it will affect the life on Earth? If yes, how? I did see in some forums that it would affect drastically the magnetic field of the Earth but...All I know about this stuff of Solar Storm is that they can mess up with satellites.
Scientists cannot predict solar storms years or even months in advance, just as we cannot predict individual hurricanes on Earth. What we can predict is the 11-year cycle of solar activity. We are currently going through the minimum activity, with the first sunspots of the new cycle having appeared early in 2008. The next 11-year maximum will be sometime in 2011-2013. Meanwhile, don't worry. NASA has not predicted any specific solar storms for 2012, and there is nothing dangerous for people (although solar storms can damage sensitive spacecraft) about going through a solar maximum -- we do so every 11 years.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
September 2, 2008
- How frequently are questions answered?
- I asked a question but there was no answer?
- Who is the Astrobiologist answering these questions?
- Will I get an email when my question is answered?
- What college courses should I take to become an astrobiologist?
- How can I get a job as an astrobiologist at NASA?
- Have aliens visited Earth? Are UFOs real?
- Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
- Is it true that the Sun will be in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in December 2012 and that this will cause a pole shift and massive destruction.
- Has NASA discovered life on other worlds?
- Astrobiology Career Path Suggestions
