Earth’s Close Call With Catastrophe

Back in late July, 2012, the sun released two large Coronal Mass Ejections (CME’s).  These plasma clouds carried with it a solar storm more powerful than we’ve seen in the last 150 years.  The good news for us?

The site in which these ejections were released were not facing toward Earth when they occurred.  Otherwise, we could still be dealing with the aftermath today.  The following is a blurb from a piece published by the Capital Weather Gang of the Washington Post Wednesday:

On July 23, 2012, the sun unleashed two massive clouds of plasma that barely missed a catastrophic encounter with the Earth’s atmosphere.  These plasma clouds, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), comprised a solar storm thought to be the most powerful in at least 150 years.

“If it had hit, we would still be picking up the pieces,” physicist Daniel Baker of the University of Colorado tells NASA.

Fortunately, the blast site of the CMEs was not directed at Earth.  Had this event occurred a week earlier when the point of eruption was Earth-facing, a potentially disastrous outcome would have unfolded.

“I have come away from our recent studies more convinced than ever that Earth and its inhabitants were incredibly fortunate that the 2012 eruption happened when it did,” Baker tells NASA.  “If the eruption had occurred only one week earlier, Earth would have been in the line of fire.”

The following is a video which loops 3 times and shows the ejections taking place on the night of July 22-23, 2012:

Had this solar storm struck Earth, it would of resulted in devastating impacts on anything and everything electrical.  Widespread blackouts and the dislodging of vital power grids could have even prevented us from flushing our toilets.  Talk about a load of crap, eh (pun intended)?

Transportation, commerce, human health and medical facilities, among other sectors of the economy would have also felt the consequences had this event taken place.

Be sure to meander over to the Washington Post for more info on this very interesting story.  It really helps put things into perspective regarding the phenomenas our universe is capable of.