Evidence of the effects of such a flare were first noted by the astronomer Richard Carrington on September 1, 1859. People reported being able to read their newspapers due to the brightness. Worldwide telegraph operators were shocked unconscious and sparks flew from their telegraph machines even after being disconnected from their batteries. The power from the solar flare created electricity in the telegraph lines.
In response to the incident three weeks ago, Peter Vincent Pry, who served on the Congressional EMP Threat Commission stated, "There had been a near miss about two weeks ago, a Carrington-class coronal mass ejection crossed the orbit of the Earth and basically just missed us. Basically this is a Russian roulette thing," he said. "We narrowly escaped from a Carrington-class disaster."
EMP have the capability of wreaking havoc on our electronically dependent lives. In 1989 an EMP knocked out the electrical grid of Quebec.
The sun is nearing an eleven year peak in solar activity and 2012 saw very volatile activity. A study into solar storms last year predicted there was a one in eight chance of a major one affecting the Earth by 2020. There have been Congressional panels ongoing to address the issue of how to protect the power grid of the U.S. In the U.K. the Royal Academy of Engineering experts feel they are prepared for such an event.
Where will you be when the lights go out?
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