Solar superstorm likely to hit Earth may cause global internet meltdown; claims study

According to the latest study by California University researcher, Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi has warned about a massive solar storm in 2021, that may cause an ínternet apocalypse around the world. The papers presented at the SIGCOMM 2021 suggested that the radiations blowing towards the earth can affect communication systems including the underwater cable wires necessary for the internet. Besides this, the predicted event might cause blackouts that can last for several hours if not days. 

In the research, Jyothi has warned that the current internet infrastructure is not prepared for a large scale solar event with a limited understanding of what the extent of the damage would be.

What causes a solar storm?

Solar storms are basically winds rippling out from the sun, following disturbances on its surface, which constitutes a massive amount of heavily ionised particles. These ionised particles make the Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) radiating from the sun and that further rattles the earth upon interaction with the latter's magnetic field. Scarily enough, one huge solar burst from the sun is capable to swallow the entire Earth, which won't be happening considering the unfathomable distance in between. 

How will communication be affected?

According to Jyothi's research, the solar flares can even deorbit or destroy the communication satellites present outside the atmosphere and further affecting the means of communication inside the earth's atmosphere. The study also suggested that the underwater internet cables are more vulnerable to disruption as these cables are fitted with repeaters that are placed every 50 to 150 kilometres to relay the signal as it is. The failure of these repeaters may result in total inactivity of the internet cables. 

But providing a sigh of relief, the research papers suggested that regions present in the lower latitudes are close to the equator, such as Singapore, will suffer the least. In contrast, areas that are closer to the magnetic poles will face the most damage.

However, the research also added that currently there are no models available of how this could play out with a minimal understanding of how these storms would impact power systems on land. For the ocean, it's even more difficult to predict.

Reportedly, our planet had witnessed the biggest damaging solar events way back in 1859 and 1921.

(Image Credits: AP)