Warning: Solar Storm
Psalm 50:1
“The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.”
Solar Cycle 10 – a typical 11-year sunspot cycle, from late 1855 to 1867 – was one of the busiest ever observed for solar activity. British amateur astronomer Richard Carrington had noticed a great deal of activity on the surface of the Sun from August 28th, 1859. On the morning of Thursday, September 1st, he once again pointed his brass telescope at the Sun, and he hurriedly made dozens of rapid sketches of the projected images. Suddenly, he reported that he saw “two patches of intensely bright and white light”. He had just witnessed the largest ever recorded solar event – now named the Carrington Event.
Within 18 hours, the Earth was experiencing massive Aurora displays – the northern lights seen at latitudes as far south as Cuba. More interesting was the effect on the telegraph systems. All around the world, telegraph systems failed, operators experienced shocks and telegraph papers caught fire.
What would happen if a solar storm the size of the Carrington Event happened today? Earth is surrounded by communication satellites, and most countries of the world rely on computer networks and the Internet. All of these could be damaged or destroyed by another Carrington.
The Carrington Event at least shows why God created a magnetic field around the Earth. The Aurora displays at least showed that Earth has some protection against such an unusual event. And no event is truly random. “The lot is cast into the lap”, says Solomon in Proverbs, “but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that nothing escapes Your notice, and nothing happens by chance. It is all in Your hands, and into Your hands we commit ourselves. Amen.
Author: Paul F. Taylor
Ref: < https://www.newscientist.com/article/2250369-we-can-now-predict-dangerous-solar-flares-a-day-before-they-happen/>, and < https://www.history.com/news/a-perfect-solar-superstorm-the-1859-carrington-event>, both accessed 7/30/2020.
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