An Ancient Solar Storm 9200 years ago is Cause for Concern

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the implications of ancient solar storms, particularly one that occurred 9,200 years ago, and its relevance to contemporary concerns about solar activity and potential catastrophic events. Participants explore the historical context, potential risks of modern solar storms, and the nature of evidence for past catastrophic events.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern that even a solar storm similar to the Carrington event could have disastrous effects on modern technology.
  • One participant notes that a Carrington-type event nearly occurred in 2012, emphasizing the potential for catastrophic outcomes in today's technological landscape.
  • Another participant raises the question of whether other catastrophic events might have occurred without leaving a trace, suggesting that evidence may be lost to subsequent events.
  • There is a mention of a book titled "The Doomsday Book," which discusses various catastrophic events and their consequences, indicating interest in understanding the broader context of such phenomena.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the potential risks posed by solar storms, particularly in relation to modern technology. However, there are differing views on the historical record of catastrophic events and the implications of such events for understanding past and future risks.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the evidence for past catastrophic events may be incomplete or obscured by subsequent occurrences, leading to uncertainty about the historical record.

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I think that even a simple repetition of the Carrington event will be disastrous. We do not have to look at an event 9,000 years ago. 160 years are sufficient.
 
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It seems every kind of event where the Earth survives shows a scar of some sort that scientists can discover. Only a catastropic event of a similar type occurring over another might destroy any prior evidence but we would never know because there’s no evidence to know.

there's an interesting book on catastropic events called The Doomsday Book where several different types of events are described and their aftereffects are explained in greater detail.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454939966/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 

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