“Internet Apocalypse”: A violent solar storm could force the world offline for weeks or even months

A new study has warned that a super solar storm, which occurs once every hundred years or so, could plunge the world into an “Internet apocalypse,” keeping large swathes of society offline for weeks or even longer. month. The Sun is constantly bombarding the Earth with electromagnetic particles. These particles – which form the solar wind – are usually sent to the poles by the Earth’s magnetic shield which protects the planet from any real damage. About every 100 years, this solar wind turns into a true solar storm, the researchers say, which could have serious consequences for modern life.

The study titled “Solar Superstorms: Planning for an Internet Apocalypse” was presented at the SIGCOMM 2021 data communications conference. Its author Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi of the University of California at Irvine writes that modern technological advancements have coincided with a period of low solar activity and the Sun is expected to become more active in the near future.

Scientists estimate that the likelihood of extreme space weather conditions directly impacting Earth is between 1.6% and 12% over the next decade. According to the research, the regional internet infrastructure would face a low risk of damage even in a massive solar storm, as the optical fiber itself is not affected by geomagnetically induced currents. But the risk is higher for long submarine cables. If a solar storm disrupts a number of these cables, it could cause connectivity failure between countries, even leaving local infrastructure intact.

“Our infrastructure is not prepared for a large-scale solar event. We have a very limited understanding of the extent of the damage, ”said Abdu Jyothi, quoted by Wired. The pandemic and the world’s lack of preparedness to deal with a global emergency prompted the researcher to reflect on the resilience of the Internet.

For a severe solar storm, Earth will have about 13 hours to prepare, Abdu Jyothi added. Only two such storms have been recorded in recent history – in 1859 and 1921.

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