[HN Gopher] Earth, Wind, and Solar Fire
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       Earth, Wind, and Solar Fire
        
       Author : amirmasoudabdol
       Score  : 30 points
       Date   : 2021-03-01 13:12 UTC (9 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (increment.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (increment.com)
        
       | JBiserkov wrote:
       | We are also overdue for a Geomagnetic reversal. The field
       | strength can drops 20 times during such periods.
       | 
       | "a brief complete reversal 41,000 years ago, which led to the
       | magnetic field strength dropping to an estimated 5% of normal
       | during the reversal."
       | 
       | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal
        
       | goda90 wrote:
       | >A 2014 Congressional report found that if more than eight
       | transformers in the United States were destroyed simultaneously,
       | the country's entire grid system would collapse. Since it can
       | take up to 20 months to build, test, and install new
       | transformers, many areas could see extended periods with reduced
       | grid power, or even none at all.
       | 
       | This is the scariest fact here. Even if we hardened against CMEs,
       | there are other things that can threaten transformers(terrorism,
       | extreme weather, etc). If it takes 20 months to replace these
       | kinds of things(assuming you even have power to manufacture
       | them), then we should have a backup supply. Ideally at least one
       | for every one in operation.
        
         | aftbit wrote:
         | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metcalf_sniper_attack
        
           | KineticLensman wrote:
           | > The attack, in which gunmen fired on 17 electrical
           | transformers, resulted in more than $15 million worth of
           | equipment damage, but it had little impact on the station's
           | electrical power supply
        
             | nerdponx wrote:
             | Which is still pretty bad, considering what else $15
             | million could be spent on.
        
       | _Microft wrote:
       | The NASA has visualizations of simulated CMEs of different
       | strength on Youtube. Check it out here:
       | 
       | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLLq6plMjU0
        
       | overcastsky wrote:
       | Anyone remember the solar flare warnings/EMP stuff where we would
       | all be set back into the stone age? Since we are heading into
       | Grand Solar Minimum now for a bit, at least we can not worry
       | about solar flares (tongue-in-cheek). These systems the world
       | over are usually poorly defended from natural or intentional
       | threats. The US has atrocious handling of SCADA and attendant
       | systems. Look at how fragile Texas is/was.
        
       | nickelcitymario wrote:
       | Anyone else seeing a lot of these stories in the past few weeks?
       | The article is good, and the danger is real, but I'm suspicious
       | about why these stories are coming out all of a sudden,
       | considering the level of danger has not changed. There's no _new_
       | reason to be concerned.
        
         | playingchanges wrote:
         | Maybe because of recent events in Texas? Makes sense to me.
        
           | swsieber wrote:
           | Yeah, I see this and immediately think of Texas. Helps that I
           | have in-laws there.
           | 
           | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recency_bias
        
       | marshmallow_12 wrote:
       | It's hard to predict natural disasters and it's impossible to
       | prevent them. A global pandemic was a certainity, yet everyone
       | was caught off guard. Why? No one invests too much time thinking
       | about theoretical possibilities.
        
         | [deleted]
        
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       (page generated 2021-03-01 23:02 UTC)