Critical Infrastructure Largely Unharmed by Massive Solar Storm
Last week, as a result of a colossal solar storm, critical infrastructure only experienced minimum disruptions to the world’s transportation system and energy grid. Critical infrastructure operators expected much worse from the storm that sent a flood of highly-charged protons at the Earth. The storm was more intense than any other in the past seven years and was cause by a coronal mass ejection that sent balls of gas consisting of charged particles and magnetic field from the sun’s outer atmosphere. During these types of storms the Earth’s magnetic field is disturbed by the sun’s energetic protons that roil the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
These storms are problematic because the can knock out national power grids, damage hospital equipment, destroy satellites, short circuit home electronics, and severely disrupt communications equipment. For this storm, airlines were forced to reroute flights to minimize communication outages and increased radiation exposure.
Scientists have been warning about more violent storms for some time, as the sun’s cycle is set to peak in 2013.
Sources
MASSIVE SOLAR STORM LEAVES CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LARGELY UNHARMED
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20120131-massive-solar-storm-l...
Prevention Relevance
Critical infrastructure disruptions, such as communication outages, can have a significant impact on first responders.
Prevention Techniques
[Risk Management] Are there any ways that critical infrastructure operators can prevent the disruption caused by solar storms?
Prevention Thought
[Risk Management] First responders should be educated on policies and procedures to follow in the event that solar storms hinder the use of communication devices.
IPS Contact Information
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