Of all the 2012 doomsday possibilities put forth, the most likely to occur is the so called Carrington Event. This is something that has happened before and could happen at any time now that we're approaching the solar maximum.
And with our dependence on electricity in the modern world, this doomsday scenario would very quickly put the planet into a new dark age that could take years to get ourselves out of.
This would be a large solar flare with an earth directed CME that destroys our electrical grid. From the source of power; be it a power plant, dam, or nuclear reactor, spreading instantly around the planet along transmission lines, and following them to the end where your power using products are plugged in, frying everything attached.
British astronomer Richard Carrington, in the final days of August 1859, made observations of a very bright emission from the sun in an area of sunspots he was studying, and the worldwide effects of this proton bombardment over the next few days that he realized was a direct effect of what he witnessed, has today become synonymous with his name.
Besides being a visually stunning event for the entire planet, with constant intense auroras from the equator to the poles that produced light enough to read by in the mid Atlantic states, it played havoc with what little power dependent infrastructure was in existence at the time. Telegraph systems were inoperable, with reports of operators being shocked, telegraph machines operating on their own even though they were disconnected, and in some cases starting fires.
A similar event today could have catastrophic effects ranging from the destruction of satellites, the GPS system inoperable (planes and ships would be navigating old style), blown transformers and inoperable life support systems, none of the communications apparatus we're so accustomed to being usable, and entire continents in blackouts that last as long as it takes for us to repair what's damaged.
A severe disruption to the power grid would make it very difficult for people to get water, super market shelves would empty and stay that way, and the resulting fallout from society reacting to these problems would not be a pretty sight.
At least with this scenario there are direct measures you can take to prepare yourself and have a fighting chance. At least when compared to fighting off an alien race bent on our destruction or living in the shadow of an erupting super volcano.
Plus, camping can be fun.
And with our dependence on electricity in the modern world, this doomsday scenario would very quickly put the planet into a new dark age that could take years to get ourselves out of.
This would be a large solar flare with an earth directed CME that destroys our electrical grid. From the source of power; be it a power plant, dam, or nuclear reactor, spreading instantly around the planet along transmission lines, and following them to the end where your power using products are plugged in, frying everything attached.
British astronomer Richard Carrington, in the final days of August 1859, made observations of a very bright emission from the sun in an area of sunspots he was studying, and the worldwide effects of this proton bombardment over the next few days that he realized was a direct effect of what he witnessed, has today become synonymous with his name.
Besides being a visually stunning event for the entire planet, with constant intense auroras from the equator to the poles that produced light enough to read by in the mid Atlantic states, it played havoc with what little power dependent infrastructure was in existence at the time. Telegraph systems were inoperable, with reports of operators being shocked, telegraph machines operating on their own even though they were disconnected, and in some cases starting fires.
A similar event today could have catastrophic effects ranging from the destruction of satellites, the GPS system inoperable (planes and ships would be navigating old style), blown transformers and inoperable life support systems, none of the communications apparatus we're so accustomed to being usable, and entire continents in blackouts that last as long as it takes for us to repair what's damaged.
A severe disruption to the power grid would make it very difficult for people to get water, super market shelves would empty and stay that way, and the resulting fallout from society reacting to these problems would not be a pretty sight.
At least with this scenario there are direct measures you can take to prepare yourself and have a fighting chance. At least when compared to fighting off an alien race bent on our destruction or living in the shadow of an erupting super volcano.
Plus, camping can be fun.
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