Several reports, analysis, and latest research statistics have been released over the last 7 days telling us of the coming solar cycle and its potential damaging consequences.
It is known as Cycle 24 and is expected to be as much as 50% stronger than its predecessor. Most solar scientists agree Cycle 24 began on July 1st 2006 when the first sunspot distributed a 'reverse' magnetic field. Over the last several months, the sunspot and solar activity have been extremely mild. This is known as 'solar minimum'. From this point on, solar activity will begin to ramp up with more significant activity becoming noticeable by the end of this year.
To present a frame work of just what "50% stronger" might look like, lets go back to Cycle 23. In this cycle we witnessed sunspot counts into the 400's. The prediction for Cycle 23's 'apex' or maximum issued by NASA was 150. The count had more than doubled. We also witnessed the largest solar flare every recorded on November 4th 2003 know as the "Halloween Flare". This solar flare and following CME was so large, it literally pegged the needles on all gages. It buried all the instruments which measure magnetic flux and charged particles. It literally shocked the science community.
At the time, the measuring instruments to measure the strength of a solar flare/CME and its effect on our (Earth's) magnetic field only went to 9. Until this day, an X-9 was the largest flare recorded. On November 4th 2003 a solar flare and following CME (coronal mass ejection) exploded just as it began rotating over the western limb of the Sun. If it had been just 48 to 72 hours earlier, the flare would have Earth directed and we would have experienced a direct hit. The strength of this event measured an X-45, of which such strength had never been witnessed or anticipated. Even to this day we can only speculate the damage it would have caused to our power grids, satellites, GPS, and any number of devices which depend of communication or directional satellites.
I was there right in the middle of it and I have never forgotten the exhilaration of the moment. I have never experienced such a moment in "live" radio as this one, and probably never will again. As the event was unfolding right in front of our eyes, I had Dr. Ernest Hildner, Director of the NASA/NOAA Space Weather Center on the phone doing an interview. At that moment the solar flare exploded and the information was coming in as we were talking. Hearing Dr. Hildner saying "oh my gosh, the instruments are off the charts. I've never seen this before". We were getting first hand information from the world's hub on space weather. Nothing, and I mean nothing hits the news services without going across Hildners desk. Earth Changes Media was in the right place; at the right time and we have never stopped perusing the most recent cutting edge breaking news since.
You can hear this breath-taking interview on our "Audio Archives" page and select the year 2003 and Day Nov.3rd http://www.earthchangesmedia.com/secure/olderaudio.php
Dr. Hildner reminded us of the luck we had by this sunspot region just passing over the western limb before it exploded. Even with this, an emergency call to the FAA was placed, and commercial and military aircraft was ordered to lower altitudes to avoid solar radiation hazards. The electrical charge was so strong, the 'Aurora Borealis' (northern lights) had dropped down to the 36 parallel. This would include Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma. This is a very rare event. Usually the Aurora's are only seen in Alaska and occasionally Washington State, Wyoming, Montana, and Maine.
NOTE: The new 'Cycle 24' has been predicted to be up to 50% stronger. I don't think you need a scientific degree to understand the possible outcomes as a result of this escalation. In fact, the news of this prediction was 1st to broadcast on Earth Changes Media prior to any other news agency in the world.
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