Preparing for the Next Big CME: Detection and Mitigation Strategies

[jedishrfu]

An article on the disruptive power of a Coronal Mass Ejection and the aftermath on Earth if it slips past our magnetic field defense:

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/giant-solar-flare/

 

[jim mcnamara]

Yup. One consequence is a required full blackstart for the electric grid - after the shower is over. The last bad one, a direct X-level CME, was was in 1859. Nee the Carrington Event:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event

GPS and comsat would take a major hit.

 

[jedishrfu]

We should invest in the Pony Express.

 

[gleem]

Some years ago I read that power companies keep only a few replacement transformers like the ones in the substations and that it took about six months to deliver a new transformer. I do not know if that is still true.

 

[jedishrfu]

Here’s how to keep your own stuff safe maybe…

https://www.instructables.com/Protecting-Your-Electronics-From-EMP-and-Solar-Sto/

 

[jedishrfu]

Some years ago I read that power companies keep only a few replacement transformers like the ones in the substations and that it took about six months to deliver a new transformer. I do not know if that is still true.

Given the current supply chain issues, I imagine there will be major problems in getting things back up Especially with the recent developments with China and the rest of the world.

 

[gleem]

Are there any other facilities besides the Inouye observatory capable of early detection of CMEs? If not is there thus a 12 hour period when it cannot detect CME activity? If true the 18 hrs warning drops to 6 hours.
I seems to me that loosing a substantial part of the grid for more that a few days amount of time will result in a situation that most people are ill prepared to deal with.