The sun could help energy conservation with solar flares

By JLBane

Reports are today surfacing about a huge solar flare which erupted from a sunspot region that measures 62,000 miles across. The general consensus is that we could lose some radio, GPS and electrical services for a while in the next few days, but in the higher latitudes we’ll be treated to some spectacular aurora light shows.

I’m personally not well informed when it comes to solar activity but researching climate change does bring it to my attention from time to time as many scientists claim the sun is responsible for our climate change crisis.

That’s a discussion for another time, but if it’s true that we’re going to experience radio and satellite black outs, then as I see it there’s an opportunity for us to take part in a little energy conservation.

The scientific community are frothing about how active the sun is at the moment and the next four or five days could be particularly explosive, but here on earth it’s unlikely that we’ll feel any major difference as a result of these radioactive emissions.

The flare witnessed most recently was described as a X2.2 (a major event by all accounts) and is reportedly interfering with communication satellites, and with the same spot predicted to unleash further full spectrum rays upon the solar system in the next few days we have an opportunity to switch off the TV, walk up the nearest hill and wait for the pretty lights.

It’s a two-fold win. Firstly you’re free of the eye burning television and its dreadful line-up of programs, saving yourself a bit on the electricity bill; and secondly you get to take a nice walk and enjoy the benefits of healthy exertion and the once in a lifetime experience of pretty, pretty space lights.

Of course there’s always a bit of scare mongering when events like this occur, especially since such dreadful films as 2012 foretold the end of the world as predicted by the Mayans, while John Cusack drove a limo through a falling skyscraper (I’ll never get the hours I spent watching that film back), and predictably it’s the USA which is at most risk.

Coronal emissions are said to have caused some problems with the power grid in Canada, after a flare hit the earth and overloaded Quebec’s grid leaving thousands of homes in the dark for several hours.

The power grids in the US are even more vulnerable as the scale of the transmission systems would attract currents caused by coronal mass ejections and could potentially destroy transformers. This could have a knock on effect for things like sewage refining, water pumps and hospitals.

That’s as bad as it gets and I don’t buy any of it for a second. I doubt there’ll be a single noticeable difference after the sunspot stops throwing its tantrum and life will carry on as normal, as it always does.

Please leave a comment about solar flares and what effect you think they may have on the earth.

images: wired.com, ehsmanager.blogspot.com

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