Systemic power disruption from solar storms...
April 19, 2012
By Simon Kilgour, a partner at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP It is accepted scientific knowledge between 2012 and 2014, the Sun is expected to produce a large number of solar storms as part of its natural cycle. These storms are caused by massive explosions on the Sun that propel huge amounts of hazardous solar matter into the universe at enormous speeds. Some experts believe there has been a lull in serious storms and therefore more should be expected as the present solar cycle peaks in this two-year period. Lloyd’s, Swiss Re, Zurich and the Chief Risk Officers’ Forum have all recognised and warned of the potentially very serious economic and societal consequences that could flow from an extreme solar storm event. The Earth is often in the way of potentially harmful solar storms, but its strong magnetic field usually deflects the...