I understand there will be another problem with electricity in November/December that doesn't have anything to do with y2k. Sun spots? Will this be like the ABC 20/20 in RF problem? Not a teckie, just trying to learn.

God Bless, Tess

-- Tess (preparingfortheworst@prayingforthebest.com), February 13, 1999

Answers

From what (little) I read, yes, but not nearly so bad. One article mentioned that a local (regional?) power-outage resulted from the last increase in sun-spot activity (if my poor memory serves). Some communications will definately be affected, but this is normal for comms.

This will be nothing like an RF bomb pointed at a car or PC, though! Little problem, just bad timing.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 14, 1999.

The only way that solar activity can directly affect an electric power system is through atmospheric induction from extremely intense solar radiation. It is very rare, and is often associated with coronal mass ejections, or very large X class flares.

Normal radio communications is severly curtailed by this time, so if you are trying to listen to shortwave radio, or even AM radio, and can't hear the station because of lots of noise, then it's a good bet that the earth is under the influence of increased solar output.

These solar phenomena cannot be reliably predicted, so no one can predict if or when a short-term period of increased solar activity will occur. The probability of increased activity increases during the peak months of a solar cycle, and we are approaching the peak of solar cycle 23. Current estimates still say we will probably reach the peak sometime next year.

In summary, the possibility exists that the power network could be affected by increased solar activity, but no one can say for sure if it will happen, much less exactly when.

Hope this helps.

LP

-- LP (soldog@hotmail.com), February 14, 1999.

Earlier threads that discussed solar storms:

Dose anybody know about - Cycle 23 0f Solar Max ? please at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000BEP

Electromagnetic Space Storms at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000DA3

I think there was at least one other, but can't find it now.

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), February 14, 1999.

The best article I've ever come across on this subject is this in Government Computer News:

"DOD braces for space storms - Atmospheric disruptions in 2000 could interfere with satellite, comm systems"

http://www.ntgov.com/gcn/1998/october19/33.htm

This is a must read.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 14, 1999.

Typo. Here's the link again...

http://www.ntgov.com/gcn/gcn/1998/october19/33.htm

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 14, 1999.

Thank you all for your answers.

God Bless, Tess

-- Tess (preparingfortheworst@prayingforthebest.com), February 14, 1999.