Could Solar Storms Knock Out the Internet for Months? Preparing for the Threat

Could Solar Storms Leave Us Without Internet for Months?

In our increasingly technology-dependent modern world, few things strike fear into our hearts more than the thought of extended internet and power outages. Yet recent news and scientific reports suggest that severe solar storms could pose a real threat of long-term disruptions to critical infrastructure like the electrical grid and internet access.

Our Sun's Stormy Nature

The sun naturally goes through 11-year cycles of solar activity, with the highest number of sunspots and solar flares occurring during the peak period of each cycle. The last major peak occurred in 2014, but we are ramping up towards the next one in 2025.

Alongside routine solar cycles, the sun also unpredictably unleashes intense bursts of magnetized plasma known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). If directed towards Earth, these CMEs interact with our planet's magnetic field and can trigger widespread geomagnetic storms.

Geomagnetic Storm Impacts

Strong geomagnetic storms pose a major risk for our electrical grids and satellites orbiting Earth. The storms unleash surges of electrical currents that can overwhelm power transformers and fry critical components. Past storms, like the Carrington Event of 1859 and the Quebec blackout of 1989, caused extensive damage and power outages.

Satellites are also vulnerable to electrical damage and disruption from solar storms. We rely on satellites for communications, GPS, weather tracking, and many other services that could be degraded or lost during a severe space weather event.

Could We Lose Internet for Months?

Damage to electrical infrastructure and satellites from a powerful geomagnetic storm could theoretically lead to internet outages lasting weeks, months, or even longer in some areas. The loss of power and backup generators could knock data centers and network infrastructure offline until electricity is restored.

With damage to undersea internet cables or satellites providing backbone connectivity, major network segments could be offline for extended periods. Critical technical components may take weeks or months to replace given limited spares and manufacturing capacity.

Government Warnings on Solar Storm Risk

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an alert warning critical infrastructure operators to prepare for the risk of potential catastrophic impacts from geomagnetic storms. They advised planning for collapsed power grid segments and communication network outages that could last several months.

Earlier in 2022, the White House released an extensive national space weather strategy to help manage risks from solar events. It calls for improved forecasting, protections for critical systems like the grid, and planning to enhance national resilience if severe space weather does occur.

Can We Reduce the Threat?

While the sun's behavior cannot be controlled, a variety of preparedness steps could reduce outage durations and impacts if the worst does happen:

• Hardening electrical grids and satellites against solar storms
• Boosting backup power capabilities at key facilities
• Increasing inventory of spare parts for repairs
• Creating detailed response and recovery plans
• Improving space weather forecasting abilities

Though experts consider an internet-crippling solar storm unlikely in the near term, solar activity will inevitably surge again. Developing resilience against space weather threats will enable us to bounce back faster and minimize potential outages.

Maintaining Hope

While the thought of enduring months without internet or electricity is certainly daunting, human societies have successfully endured disruptions of similar or greater magnitudes in the past through community support.

By banding together, sharing resources, and looking out for one another, we could maintain hope through challenging periods and emerge with greater resilience and wisdom.

Though we cannot control the sun, we can control how we prepare for and respond to adversity. Through courage and compassion, humans can survive almost any hardship, even a world without internet.

FAQs

How likely is an internet-disabling solar storm?

Government agencies consider a catastrophic solar storm that could cripple internet and power grids as a low probability but high impact threat. More routine solar storms with less extensive impacts occur more frequently.

How would solar storms impact internet access?

Damage to electrical grids and satellites from severe solar storms could lead to prolonged internet outages. Power loss would knock key infrastructure offline. Satellite disruption hampers connectivity.

What’s the worst-case for internet loss from a solar storm?

In an extreme scenario, some network equipment and grid infrastructure could endure damage requiring months to fully repair or replace. However, isolated internet access may return sooner by rerouting connections.

How can we prepare for solar storm risks?

Steps like hardening grids and satellites, boosting backup power supplies, expanding spare part inventories, improving forecasting, and planning detailed response protocols can help minimize outage severity.

When is the next period of increased solar storm activity?

Solar activity runs in roughly 11-year cycles, with the last major peak in 2014. We’re ramping up towards another active phase peaking around 2025 when a higher tempo of solar storms is likely.