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Weathering a Perfect Storm from Space

February 1, 2016

Extreme space-weather events — intense solar and geomagnetic storms — have occurred in the past: most recently in 1859, 1921 and 1989. So scientists expect that, sooner or later, another extremely intense spaceweather event will strike Earth again. Such storms have the potential to cause widespread interference with and damage to technological systems. A National Academy of Sciences study projects that an extreme space-weather event could end up costing the American economy more than $1 trillion. The question now is whether or not we will take the actions needed to avoid such expensive consequences. Let’s assume that we do. Below is an imagined scenario of how, sometime in the future, an extreme space-weather event might play out.

Publication Year 2016
Title Weathering a Perfect Storm from Space
Authors Jeffrey J. Love
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Earth Magazine
Index ID 70164516
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Geologic Hazards Science Center
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