The most violent solar storms in years could paralyze Internet and rail traffic from around the world

According to the US space agency NASA, the strongest solar storm in years could cause problems on Earth. Chapter The phenomenon is expected to take from one to three days to reach Earth, so the most severe impact is expected to be on December 17. This also means problems for rail traffic in Germany.

Satellite disturbances caused by solar storms: consequences for railway traffic

Researchers in Great Britain have now discovered through computer simulations that potential damage to satellites caused by solar storms could lead to major disruptions to rail traffic. For example, by disabling train signals and making them jump from red to green at the wrong time. This could lead to train collisions. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from Lancaster University. A study published by the group in the specialized journal Space Weather also stated: Even small solar storms, which occur approximately every ten to twenty years, can disrupt vacancy detection systems that are particularly outdated.

The risk is especially high on weekends

Now the risk is especially high, and NASA is warning of the most violent solar storm in years this weekend. Because: In addition to the burst of energy, a “coronal mass ejection” also occurred on December 14, in which charged particles from the Sun are flung into space. When these particles collide with the Earth’s magnetic field, a solar or magnetic storm occurs. Such storms can cause the northern lights to form, but also disrupt satellite, radio and Internet communications — and rail traffic.

The original for this post comes from glomex.