Space Storm

Scientists are preparing for a solar storm that could break communications for years and potentially put life on Earth in danger.

16:44 11 April 2016

Agencies including the US Department of Homeland Security and Nasa are preparing for a possibility of a geomagnetic storm coming from the sun that could cause huge damage to life on Earth. Although the chances of it actually happening is "low" it is expected to be a high impact event that could break communications for years and potentially put life on Earth in danger. Due to the seriousness of the situation, scientists have warned that humanity needs to do more to deal with it.

 

Jack Anderson, a senior analyst for the US Department for Homeland Security, said: "We know there is a gap in our ability to assess vulnerability and consequences," 

 

"Once systems start to fail, (the outages) could cascade in ways we can't even conceive," added Daniel Baker, director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado.

 

Space weather has caused some problems in the past with the Carrington Event, which took place in 1859, being the worst known geomagnetic storm. Experts said that should it happen today, it would throw off much communications technology we currently have.