Space Storms Can Damage Electrical Systems
The 11-year maximum and minimum cycle of sunspot activity has been known about, and studied for centuries, but recent breakthroughs by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), have given scientists confidence that they can predict the strength of future Sunspot cycles with 98% accuracy.
Their forecast for the latest cycle (No.24) is for it to start about a year late, but to be 30-50% stronger than the last cycle at its‘ peak in 2012, making it one of the strongest in centuries. The Sun remains quiet at time of writing, suggesting that the first part of this forecast, at least, is coming true.
A number of factors are combining to make the year 2012 a prime candidate for a major electro-magnetic storm affecting North America. Sunspot activity will be at its’ peak, and any resulting Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) will be magnetized north, making it more likely to breach the Earths’ magnetic field. The field itself, which plays an important role in protecting the Earth from these events, has weakened by as much as 10% over the last 150 years. Finally, North Americas’ geographical proximity to the Geomagnetic North Pole makes it even more vulnerable to these events.
