A potential “internet apocalypse” looms, warned Professor Peter Becker from George Mason University, as a solar superstorm could disrupt global internet connectivity for weeks or even months. According to Becker, the intersection of increased solar activity and our reliance on internet technology is unprecedented in human history.
Becker, leading a project with George Mason University and the Naval Research Laboratory, is developing an early warning system for solar storms. These storms, which emit large plasma blobs, can distort the Earth’s magnetic field and induce electrical currents that damage infrastructure. Becker explained that even grounded systems, thought to be safe, are vulnerable in such events.
The Carrington Event of 1859, the last major solar storm to hit Earth, devastated the telegraph system, causing sparks and electrocutions. Modern electronics, far more delicate than the telegraph wires of the past, face a greater risk of extensive damage.
The potential economic impact of such an event is staggering. Becker estimated a daily loss of $10-$20 billion to the U.S. economy alone. With evidence of even larger superstorms in the distant past, the threat is not hypothetical. NOAA predicts the current solar cycle to peak in 2024, raising concerns.
Becker likened predicting solar storms to forecasting earthquakes: unpredictable and beyond control. He estimates a 10% chance of a major disruptive event in the next decade. While the team works on modeling flares, which reach Earth in 8 minutes, they emphasize the importance of preparation. Measures like putting satellites in safe mode and disconnecting transformers can mitigate damage. However, hardening the internet infrastructure against such events, a costly endeavor, has yet to gain traction among major corporations due to the lack of immediate economic incentive.