A solar storm could cause an “Internet apocalypse” around the world
Computer scientist at the University of California at Irvine (USA) Sangeeta Abdu Jyoti has estimated the damage that a solar storm can bring to modern civilization. According to her, the consequences for the whole world can be comparable to the “apocalypse”, Forbes reports.
The last super-powerful solar storm occurred in 1859 and is known as the “Carrington event.” It has led to the disruption of telegraph networks around the world.
The modern world, which relies on communication systems and electronics, will be much more affected by the cataclysm. Electricity producers are well aware of these risks and most of them take steps to prevent possible consequences. But the global internet is not as well secured.
The author of the report stressed that the most vulnerable link is the repeaters, which are used on submarine cables. They are necessary to amplify the signal and are installed every 50-150 meters.
If the Sun's coronal mass ejection damages the repeaters, the international network will stop working. It can take weeks or even months to recover.
A massive coronal mass ejection could also destroy electronics aboard satellites used for both GPS and internet traffic. The researcher stated that the likelihood that the Carrington event will recur in the next ten years is between 1.6 and 12%.
Earlier it was reported that a series of flares was noticed on the Sun. They belonged to class C.
