High Alert as Third Solar Storm Hurtles Towards Earth
高度戒備因為第三場太陽風暴猛衝地球
August 7, 2011 10:09 AM EDT
Translation by Autumnson Blog
Three large solar explosions from the Sun are threatening to cause chaos on earth, with energy from the release potentially shutting down communications systems and power grids across the world.
三場來自太陽的大型太陽能爆炸威脅對地球引起混亂,從釋放的能量可能關閉通信系統和世界各地的電網。
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- a U.S. agency that focuses on the condition of the oceans and atmosphere -- said the magnetic storm that is soon to develop would probably be in the moderate to strong level, prompting warnings to power operators and other industries that could be affected.
美國國家海洋和大氣管理局 -- 一美國機構側重對海洋和大氣層的情况 - 說磁暴會很可能很快以中至強水平發展,促使對可能受到影響的電力經營者和其它行業警告。
"We now know how powerful space weather can be and how events that begin on the surface of the Sun can end up wreaking havoc here on Earth," said said Tom Bogdan, director of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. "This is why NOAA has a Space Weather Prediction Center - to forecast when space weather is coming our way, so we can avoid or mitigate damages."
“我們現在知道太空天氣可以多麼強大,和在太陽表面開始的事件可以如何以在地球上肆虐結束,”NOAA的空間天氣預報中心主任湯姆波格丹說。 “這就是為什麼 NOAA有一座空間天氣預報中心 - 以便空間天氣在我們的路上時作出預測,以使我們能夠避免或減輕損失。”
The first of the three solar explosions from the sun already passed Thursday and Friday with little impact but forecasts are calling for the second, passing this weekend is thought to be stronger.
來自太陽的三場太陽能爆炸的第一起已在週四和週五過去及幾乎沒有影響,但本週末過去的第二場被認為是較強及預報在發聲。
But there is a third coming this week.
但這星期有第三場來臨。
"We'll have to see what happens over the next few days," said Joseph Kunches, a NOAA scientist. "It could exacerbate the disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field caused by the second (storm) or do nothing at all."
“我們將要看看未來幾天發生什麼,”一位NOAA的科學家約瑟夫 Kunches說。 “它可能加劇由第二場(風暴)造成的地球磁場干擾,或什麼也沒有。”
The geomagnetic storm could affect communications and global positioning system (GPS) satellites and might even produce an aurora visible as far south as Minnesota and Wisconsin.
地磁暴可能會影響通訊和全球定位系統(GPS)的衛星,甚至可能產生可見的極光在南方遠至明尼蘇達州和威斯康星州。
Major disruptions have already been seen in the past.
In 1859, a surge of power from a major geomagnetic storm hit telegraph offices around the world, injuring telegraph operators, and setting papers ablaze. Many telegraph systems still sent and received signals even after operators disconnected batteries.
In 1989, a solar storm took down the power grid in Quebec, Canada, leaving about six million people without power for several hours.
"It was as if the very air was charged with electricity," the NOAA said.
A storm of similar magnitude today could cause $2 trillion in damage, globally, according a 2008 report of the National Research Council. GPS and mobile phones could go down, power grids could become disrupted.
Of particular concern is that airline and military communications could get disrupted, or even go dark This has already occurred in 2011: during space weather events in February and June, airlines reported loss of HF communication near the Arctic.
Those in low orbit can also get an extra dose of radiation.
Power grid managers receive alerts from the Space Weather Prediction Center to tell them to prepare for solar events, which peak about every 12 years.
The next solar maximum is expected in 2013, prompting scientists to step up their efforts to monitor space weather ad people become increasingly reliant on systems vulnerable to space weather.
The U.S. and the UK are collaborating to create a sophisticated new model for more accurate predictions of both terrestrial weather and the effects of space weather on Earth's technological systems.
NOAA says its also engaging more with the general public to answer the question: "Solar Maximum -- Can we weather the Storm?"
"I honestly don't know if there's a yes or no answer," said SWPC space scientist Joe Kunches.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/193818/20110807/nasa-high-alert-as-more-solar-storms-hurl-towards-earth.htm
Major Solar Storm Alert-August 5, 2011
大型太陽風暴警報 2011年8月5日
2011-08-04
警報: 停電威脅因為太陽風暴襲地球
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