Latest news with #SpaceWeatherTabletopExercise
India.com
24-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
ALERT: NASA warns of massive solar storm is heading towards earth, could disrupt power grids, mobile network, cause blackouts due to...
In recent days, the Sun has become extremely active, and this is causing serious concern among scientists and emergency teams everywhere. A series of very strong solar explosions, called X-class flares, have been spotted. These are the most powerful kind of solar flares and can cause major problems on Earth. These flares are coming from a large, highly active sunspot known as AR4087, which is now facing Earth directly. The trouble began on May 13, 2024, when the Sun released a flare rated X1.2 around 11:38 AM. The next day, an even stronger flare an X2.7 shot out from the same spot. That second flare had a big effect, it knocked out radio signals in many parts of the world, including North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. These blackouts show how powerful solar activity can mess with our communication systems and other important technology. US holds solar storm practice to prepare for future danger With the threat of solar storms growing, the US government held a big training event to check how ready they are. On May 8, 2024, in Denver, Colorado, FEMA led a special emergency drill called the 'Space Weather Tabletop Exercise.' This event brought together many important groups, including the Air National Guard's 140th Wing and 233rd Space Group, as well as major federal agencies like NOAA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The main goal was to get everyone talking openly about the problems they might face during a major solar storm. The drill imagined a situation happening in January 2028, where powerful geomagnetic storms hit Earth. These storms are caused by huge bursts of energy from the Sun, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can damage satellites, power systems, and communication networks. Massive solar storm test shows possible nationwide blackouts During the emergency drill, the most serious situation imagined was a huge solar storm, a powerful explosion from the Sun known as a solar superstorm. In this made-up scenario, the storm caused major internet failures across the US, shut down parts of the electric grid, and left large parts of the East Coast without power for a long time. This fake disaster also affected important services like trains, pipelines, and energy systems, leading to major transport problems and rising fuel prices. Experts believe if such a real event were to happen, it could cause massive damage to the economy, national security, and people's everyday lives. To make things more complex, the drill also imagined that two astronauts in NASA's Orion spacecraft were on their way to the Moon at the same time, while another crew from the Artemis mission was already there.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA issues emergency alert! Solar storms could leave parts of Earth in the dark
Recent heightened activity on the Sun has raised urgent concerns among scientists and emergency management agencies worldwide. A series of powerful X-class solar flares — the most intense category of solar radiation — has triggered warnings about Earth's vulnerability to potentially devastating space weather events. These flares have originated from the exceptionally active sunspot AR4087, which has recently become more prominent in the Sun's visible hemisphere facing Earth. The sequence began with an X1.2-class flare on May 13, 2024, at approximately 11:38 AM, followed by a stronger X2.7-class flare the next day. This second flare caused widespread radio blackouts across vast regions including North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia according to the reports. The extent of these disruptions underscores the tangible impact solar activity can have on global communications and infrastructure Solar storm drill conducted to test emergency plans amid rising threat To meet the increasing solar threat, FEMA organized a mass-scale "Space Weather Tabletop Exercise" on May 8, 2024, in Denver, Colorado. This exercise involved coordination with the 140th Wing and 233d Space Group of the US Air National Guard, and major federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Solar companies finally reveal that solar is only worthwhile if your roof... Activ8 Undo The objective of the drill was to provoke an open, no-fault discussion among agencies on the operational and logistical issues of coping with a major solar storm. The exercise modeled events in January 2028, covering different levels of geomagnetic storms, which are induced by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — enormous eruptions of solar plasma and magnetic fields into space. Solar superstorm causes big blackouts during the drill Perhaps the most destructive scenario simulated during the drill was a "solar superstorm" — a gigantic CME that in theory caused a nationwide blackout of the internet, knocked out sections of the US electrical grid, and left large areas of the Eastern Seaboard in extended blackouts. This hypothetical incident also disabled critical infrastructure, such as railways, pipelines, and power grids, resulting in a nationwide breakdown in transportation as well as surging fuel prices. The consequences of such an incident would have monumental economic, social, and security implications. Alongside the ground impact, the drill visualized two Orion spacecraft astronauts traveling to the Moon, as another crew for the Artemis mission had previously landed on the surface of the Moon, contributing to response coordination complexity and urgency. Solar storm drill reveals major preparedness shortcomings The exercise revealed critical gaps in understanding, coordination, and response procedures among participating agencies. One of the fundamental issues revealed was the challenge of interpreting and reacting to a coronal mass ejection, which gives a paltry 30-minute window of warning before hitting — an extremely brief lead time in which to mobilize defense or reduce impacts. The Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) task force report highlighted that "space weather is a complex subject, and its potential impacts are not well understood outside of NOAA and NASA." In addition, organizations were challenged to convert scientific information into actionable measures. There was a significant shortfall in special skills to determine the operational effects of space weather phenomena, and participants recognized training and public communication gaps. SWORM issues key recommendations to boost solar storm preparedness Following the simulation, SWORM made swift recommendations designed to strengthen the country's space weather resilience: Investment in enhanced monitoring technologies: Developing and implementing enhanced solar storm detection and early-warning capabilities. Increased interagency cooperation: Improving coordination among federal entities, international partners, and private-sector actors. Public awareness and education: Educating policymakers and the broader public about solar storm threats and the value of preparation. Formal protocols and exercises: Setting effective contingency plans in place and holding frequent simulation exercises, similar to those for natural disasters or cyberattacks. " Continuous readiness initiatives for a space weather occurrence are imperative ," SWORM said. "A severe event can drastically affect our nation's essential infrastructure and pose a threat to national security." Also Read | NASA scientists reveal how trees can predict volcanic eruptions from space
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Scientists issue urgent warning over solar storm threats — blackouts, grid breakdowns, ‘internet apocalypse' could be on the horizon
We hope the grid's equipped with a sun-screen. Scientists claim we're not prepared for the solar storms threatening Earth, which could cause cataclysmic blackouts, grid breakdowns and even an 'internet apocalypse,' according to a frightening 'emergency drill' conducted by a coalition of government agencies. The warning came after Earth was struck by a series of X-class solar flares — the highest magnitude of these intense radiation bursts — that erupted from the extremely active sunspot AR4087, CTV news reported. The first sun ray was an X1.2 that occurred Monday, May 13 at around 11:38am. This was followed the next morning by X2.7-class solar flare, which sparked radio blackouts spanning North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Livescience reported. 3 Last May, the Federal Emergency Management Agency hosted a space weather tabletop exercise utilizing multiple agencies across the U.S., including the 140th Wing and 233d Space Group, to generate no-fault dialogue about various challenges associated with preparing for and responding to an impending space weather event. Staff Sgt. Luccario Lovato/U.S. Air National Guard Unfortunately, we'll only see more of these solar flare-ups as sunspot AR4087 swivels closer into view — like a giant interstellar death ray. To assess our ability to handle a massive sunburst, the federal government released the results of an emergency exercise conducted by the Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM), a task force that includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other agencies. Conducted in May 2024, the 'Space Weather Tabletop Exercise was set in January 2028 and involved different magnitudes of geomagnetic storms.' These occur when the Sun sends energy and charged particles into space in a phenomenon known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), IFL Science reported. 3 NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare (circled) on May 14. NASA/SDO / SWNS The largest was a 'solar superstorm' that hypothetically caused an internet apocalypse, disrupted the US power grid, and caused blackouts across the Eastern seaboard that lasted for weeks, The Daily Mail reported. This hypothetical solar meltdown also knocked railways and pipelines offline, impacting travel nationwide and sent gas prices into the stratosphere, per the report. During this fictitious scenario, each agency was tasked with assessing and handling the fallout of an active solar region that's turning to face us — a dead ringer for our current real-life predicament of being in the crosshairs of the AR4087 sunspot, Popular Science reported. 3 'Space weather is a complex subject and its potential impacts are not well understood outside of NOAA and NASA,' read the report juliars – To compound the simulated crisis, a two-astronaut Orion spacecraft crew was flying to the Moon, while another pair of Artemis astronauts had already touched down on the lunar surface. Unfortunately, participants failed to formulate a good protocol for this catastrophic hypothetical. Participants said the most difficult task was evaluating the impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME), which can only be detected 30 minutes before it reaches Earth, making preparation all but impossible. 'Space weather is a complex subject and its potential impacts are not well understood outside of NOAA and NASA,' reads the report. SWORM added that participants also lacked the 'space weather expertise' necessary to 'translate the scientific information and determine what the specific impacts would be on Earth.' 'There is a strong need to educate not only government and agency staff but the general public, as well,' they declared. In light of the backfired drill, SWORM recommends investing in solar storm-detecting tech and upping collaboration between US agencies, international allies, and private companies. 'Ongoing preparedness efforts for a space weather event are crucial because an extreme event has the potential to severely impact our nation's critical infrastructure and threaten our national security,' the report stated,' they wrote. 'Just as we prepare for earthquakes, hurricanes, and cyberattacks, our nation must take action before a major space weather event occurs.'
