2012 Solar Flares are going to cause global chaos and disaster!

[MaggieTheCat]

This really made me headdesk.

One of my Facebook "friends" (I say "friends" in quotes because I'm "friends" with lots of people on FB who are just customers of mine, if they find me and friend me I don't object since hey, maybe they'll buy something from me later when I post pics of new stuff there) posted this link to her FB page last night:

http://gyandotcom.wordpress.com/2010...2-solar-storm/

The first sentence pretty much sums up what the article is about: "Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs."

Naturally, my friend is freaking the fuck out about this and getting all of her friends freaked out about it, as well. They're all saying that they're going to go out and buy all the canned food and bottled water that they can afford in preparation of massive power and communications failure that will supposedly occur during this solar storm.

What the article that my friend read didn't go into is that these storms happen regularly -- every 11-ish years -- and that, yes, they do take out some communications, like those of satellites orbiting the Earth. The upcoming storm is not going to be any stronger than any of the ones in recent history, however, and none of THOSE have caused world-wide chaos.

I found an article written by nasa.gov stating all of this, and linked it to her: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

However, she is still fully convinced that "The repercussions of a large magnetic storm would take out electrical, radio, wave function power sources we rely on nowdays. If it is a large magnetic storm, everything we need to survive will not be accessible- unless you live on a farm or have a large garden near a drinking water source(that didn't burn up from fire or drought)."

I guess some people just have to believe that something terrible is going to happen in 2012 because, hey, it's 2012.

[draggar]

It happened back in 1999-2001 (ish) and the worst was some cell phone reception issues.

[HYHYBT]

Even if "a large magnetic storm" DID "take out electrical, radio, wave function power sources" most of them would be working again once it was over.

As for stockpiling food and water... well, a few days' supply is always a good idea anyway, but if you're talking about preparing for months on end, well, if it ever turns out that that was necessary, you'll have to DEFEND your stash more fiercely than many would be willing to do. Especially when it's desperate friends and neighbors coming after it.

[lordlundar]

<looks at site that's linked>

Wow, umm gee.

No, I don't believe the crap on that site. That shock was how someone can look at that website that practically screams "I'm a conspiracy nut!" and not clue in.

[Gravekeeper]

The absolute worst a massive solar flare could do if it, by some miracle, hit us straight on ( ie you need a massive flare that just happens to erupt from the sun in the exact angle and direction to hit us straight on. Which would be one hell of a shot. ) is fry older power intrastructure at the point of impact. It'd be expensive as all hell and you'd have some older towns and cities without reliable power for a while till it was rebuilt. But its certainly not OMFG THE WORLD IS ENDING.

Although, it will LOOK like the end of the world. As the Borealis from a massive hit like that would be red. So the whole sky would probably turn blood red. ;p

However, the much more likely scenario is your TomTom stops working for a day or so. -.-

[Nyoibo]

However, the much more likely scenario is your TomTom stops working for a day or so. -.-

Which pathetically would be the end of the world for some people.

[Bloodsoul]

I recall watching a "documentary" on this very subject, and I believe the line of thinking they were going with was that the reason things would get so screwy is that new transformers could not be built fast enough to replace all the ones that would be damaged.

On top of that, the biggest fear is that since the majority of the 1st-world people is so used to electrically-powered everything that the transition back to pre-20th century tech would be very difficult for many. Granted, this should be readily countered by reading up on how people lived at the time.. but then who reads anymore, right?

[Gravekeeper]

I recall watching a "documentary" on this very subject, and I believe the line of thinking they were going with was that the reason things would get so screwy is that new transformers could not be built fast enough to replace all the ones that would be damaged.

Yep, National Gepgraphic / History channel had a "documentary" series on stuff like that and yeah, thats the big problem. In fact, amusingly, that article is quoting the documentary in places and sounds like its paraphrasing it. As if someone saw the show and flipped their shit, then turned around and saw NASA talking about solar weather.

You can watch the full thing on the History website if you're so inclined. Its one of those half science / half drama type shows though and its no where remotely as good or as scientific as Aftermath.