Massive solar storms could have 'devastating effects' on human technology and cause a global Hurricane Katrina-style disaster when they hit a peak in two years' time, leading experts have said.
The storms are a growing threat to worldwide infrastructures like satellite communications, navigation systems, and electrical transmission equipment, says Kathryn Sullivan, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assistant secretary. Solar storms are caused by massive explosions on the sun, and release particles that can destroy computer circuits. A massive eruption of the sun would send waves of radiation and charged particles to Earth, damaging the satellite systems used for synchronising computers, airline navigation and phone networks. link
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