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So does that mean we might have power outages? or bad or no Internet?

for some reason I don't think most people in Lebanon would know the difference
I've read about this since 2006/2007 in a magazine somewhere, I cant believe that this year is the time for it.
Shatilov, according to the article, the sun undergoes an 11-year cycle. 2012 is the peak of the current cycle.

Gamer, I don’t know if Internet satellites are at high orbit or not to be affected by such Solar storms. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_satellite).

This is taken from another article on the net:
Solar storms can be energetic particles from the sun, disturbed regions of magnetic fields, large amounts of x-rays and radio waves from the sun, or combinations of these. Normally, Earth's magnetic field is strong enough that most satellites, even the weather satellites (which are in geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles away) are within the magnetic field and therefore protected from most of the cosmic rays.
However, when a magnetic storm passes the Earth, Earth's magnetic controll shrinks. Often satellites in higher orbits (especially geosynchronous orbits) and orbits that cross Earth's poles can end up outside of Earth's magnetosphere, and these satellites are then exposed to damaging cosmic rays. Satellites in low orbits (like the space station, space shuttle, Hubble, etc.) are generally still protected.
this has been forseen to occur for some years now. about 10 years ago, it was estimated that arround this time 2011-2013, a huge storm will hit the earth. because of this, at least some major global operators (e.g. ex-qpn-quest). built their core networks in environments that could sustain the direct hit. back in the millenium (~2000), other companies laughed at ex-qpn-quest for the extreme measures they had in certain data centers. now those who laughed are trying to catch up.
i believe this solar storm the the strongest since 2003 not 2005
worst case, anything that conducts electricity (electronics to be more specific) will fry. become useless.
aboudyba166 wrotewhat effects this have on our life ?
Flares travel at different speeds depending on their intensity but the range is between 12 and 40 hours to reach Earth.
Given that we get a 10 hour heads up ( Thanks to twitter ) , you can unplug anything you like and just protect it by storing it wherever it needs to be stored.
Unplugging a few devices at home is one thing and shutting down huge electrical transformers that feed entire cities to avoid a blackout that can last months or years is another.
If you watch the video I posted in my reply (solar/magnetic storms and their potential threat to earth) you will understand the true danger of these storms... as one scientist in the video puts it "we would be thrown back in the dark ages".
2012 !!! OMG !!

- jokes aside; will i die ? I think not

Moving on. Its like that wave thingy they said that will happen (not too recently) and we had this debate on securing our electronics, as far as i remember nothing happened that day
Bottom line: will it fry my Hard Disk?

P.S: if yes then i should probably get a gun.. with a single bullet :P

EDIT: lol I just read it was from monday to wednesday :)) [why are they hurling stones at me?]
I remember reading articles last year about it saying that that's when the world is going to end and a lot of terrible things will occur and damage the earth, etc....

So funny that it happened now and barely went unnoticed.!
I've known that a solar storm will hit earth in 2012 from a long time, I've watched a documentary on discovery channel its called 2012 (not the movie) that it will hit earth at exactly 21 December (I think), but who knows, maybe its all not true.
"Strongest solar storm since 2005 hitting Earth".
Doesn't this mean that in 2005 there was a solar storm stronger than this one?!?
Did the world end in 2005? did anything happen to the internet/satellites ?
Guys, I think some of you got me wrong.

I didn't start this thread to proclaim doomsday. I just stated a scientific fact knowing some of you might be interested in learning more about it.

While the intensity of the solar/magnetic storms does determine their influence on our planet... if you watch the videos I linked above you will understand that the biggest risk factor is the earth's magnetic shield being down when a magnetic storm hits:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527504.400-shields-down-earths-mag-field-may-drop-in-a-flash.html
Our planet's magnetic field has reversed polarity from time to time throughout its history. Some models suggest that a flip would be completed in a year or two, but if, as others predict, it lasted decades or longer we would be left exposed to space radiation. This could short-circuit satellites, pose a risk to aircraft passengers and play havoc with electrical equipment on the ground.
DG wroteGuys, I think some of you got me wrong.

I didn't start this thread to proclaim doomsday. I just stated a scientific fact knowing some of you might be interested in learning more about it.

While the intensity of the solar/magnetic storms does determine their influence on our planet... if you watch the videos I linked above you will understand that the biggest risk factor is the earth's magnetic shield being down when a magnetic storm hits:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527504.400-shields-down-earths-mag-field-may-drop-in-a-flash.html
Our planet's magnetic field has reversed polarity from time to time throughout its history. Some models suggest that a flip would be completed in a year or two, but if, as others predict, it lasted decades or longer we would be left exposed to space radiation. This could short-circuit satellites, pose a risk to aircraft passengers and play havoc with electrical equipment on the ground.
ok..now im scared