How Solar Storms Could Knock Out Our Power Grid

Solar storms can hit close to home-and have the potential to affect our power grid and cause widespread blackouts.
Watch how researchers and engineers are working to make sure important infrastructure-like our power grid-is protected from geomagnetic disturbances caused by space weather.
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Produced by:
Angelica Coleman
Caitlin Saks
Production Assistance:
Lorena Lyon
Christina Monnen
Music:
APM
Archival:
Storyblocks
American Geophysical Union
NOAA
NASA Johnson
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO
NASA/SDO/STEREO/ESA/SOHO/Wiessinger
National Geophysical Data Center/David Miller
SFX:
cameronmusic/Freesound/CC BY 3.0
JavierSerrat/Freesound/CC BY 3.0
© WGBH Educational Foundation 2021

[@gaillewis5472]

A little over 20 years ago, a CME knocked out cell phones for two days. I can imagine what kind of mess that would cause now since people have ditched their land lines.

[@albertayunda5521]

You can imagine. It's gonna get worse because it's coming

[@sherylday5474]

Ditched !! We were forced !

[@andycampano]

I dont enjoy being the bearer of bad news but somebody has got to do it. I've been relaying this message for a few years now once I realized that there is a very high probability this will happen. We need to prepare for this.... Ignorance is not bliss ✨☀️

[@JackSquat54]

The possibility is extremely low. I monitor the sun cycle as i am a ham radio operator. See my comment above.

[@andycampano]

@Ketan Kulkarni well said

[@Glucoperon]

Yup.

[@charleshall6357]

It’s not a question of if it will happen it is only when.

[@EngenheiroSSS]

My graduation work at the university of electrical engineering was based on the impact that solar storms have on the electrical system.

[@tedo3332]

Have you heard of a micro nova? Did you know that the earths magnetosphere has decreased considerably as the magnetic pole excursion accelerates? I’m curious at this point with the reduction of the magnetosphere if the grid could handle a class M direct hit. Just curious if you have heard about these.

[@GuantanamoBayBarbie3]

​​@Ted O You must be a Suspicious 0bserver!! I watch Ben everyday. I was just dropping a comment on here and recommended that channel.

[@domsquaaa4323]

.

[@earthworminfertainment]

Suspicious Observers 🥱

[@melodyscamman244]

👍👍

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

Amen for Benjamin Davidson 👍

[@nenamart5272]

Watch him every morning from kyle Texas. God bless him and all his observers.

[@earthworminfertainment]

@@nenamart5272 eyes open. No fear

[@bevclagg1469]

@@earthworminfertainment don’t forget, “be safe everyone!” 😁

[@palosanto7033]

Suspicious Observers 🙌

[@chrisferrell6159]

The event caused 6 guns to go off. Zipo lighters got super hot. Coins got hot in pockets the lead heads melted on ten roofs. Train tracks got so hot that weeds caught on fire and smoldered. The Telegraph wires glowed red and melted to the ground. This is what old timers told me in the 70s they heard in the old days.

[@albertayunda5521]

You can just imagine what is going to happen in a few years. You can just imagine.

[@alexandrelepage2669]

So those are myths, legends from old timer that most likely got exaggerated

[@domsquaaa4323]

really?

[@mikebunetta7420]

Sounds like titanic thinking, we're in big trouble

[@shermdeazy]

When this happens again every wire everywhere will catch fire!

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

Amen Brother

[@alexandrelepage2669]

Actually the wire in the fuses will break to prevent this

[@mattnoll2689]

Let's see this weekend! 🧐

[@SolaceEasy]

How Solar Storms Can Knock Out Western Civilization

[@catherinelynn5073]

If that happens it's gonna knock out everywhere. Not just the US

[@cosmogirl8713]

Yes and we're also in a magnetic pole reversal as we speak

[@angel967]

Wouldn't it take 1000 years to complete or something

[@cosmogirl8713]

@@angel967 nope

[@MrJaman0083]

@@angel967 you better hope it does

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

Yes, every since the Carrington event, but check data sheets from 2000 on everything, my GOD what an uptick across the board , volcano, earthquakes floods asteroids ECT and has multiplied since then

[@tone3973]

@@angel967 kzbin.info Watch this channel, he covers this, some will say he’s just another fear mongering conspiracy Chanel, those who follow him are nothing but a doomsday cult. But honestly just take it as grain salt.

[@awkwardtexan]

We're ready to handle the next solar cycle? 😂😂😂 No, we're not.

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

I am I have been off grid so long even DMV said you dead 😁 free living no mail box no bills except phone and KZbin premium 🤣🐝🌴

[@awkwardtexan]

@@King.DAVid.III2022 That's awesome! One day I hope to be in that situation too.

[@another1397]

This cycle, 25, will collapse our grid due to the fading magnetic field from moving magnetic poles

[@davidmcguinness9187]

and we have a very weak magnetic field so good luck handling this solar cycle

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

😲😳😭🔥💥💨😁👀🤓 I'm excited to be here for it !

[@riznick]

Our politicians will be quick to blame it on climate change.

[@barbarian1111]

Posted this 🌞 funny hahaha 😉

[@albertayunda5521]

@@King.DAVid.III2022 because pple are going to loose money and everything online, electronic cars won't work.

[@lasthopelost9090]

@@riznick nice thing we won’t be able to hear them over everyone probably killing each other

[@catherineedwards8859]

Convenient excuse for power outage

[@unvaccinatedAndPureBlood]

News from the anons is that when John McAfee died it activated his dead man switch. Apparently lots of data ready to expose some high level guys which is why this news, they'll take down the internet.

[@danielparod8874]

@@unvaccinatedAndPureBlood Haha! Gotta love satirical conspiracy theories:)

[@markhostetler6319]

@@danielparod8874 wake up, Daniel. We miss you.

[@melodyscamman244]

Catherine... Certainly not all power outages are caused by electromagnetic pulses, however a large pulse WILL cause wide spread outages... You will be able to tell because all the transformers, having induced voltages coming from both directions, will explode with tremendous force. It will take YEARS to replace transformers and damaged transmission lines.

[@kdavis4910]

With a magnetosphere weakened by at least 20% it won't take a Carrington Event sized solar flare to knock out the power grids, and everything it takes to get them running again, indefinitely. I doubt we're ready for that.

[@griselvargas7027]

Eyes open. N0 fear

[@saind4170]

No talk of the climate effects from said solar storms....

[@johnwilliams3555]

This report significantly unplays the power and effect of the Carrington Event.

[@another1397]

Definitely, a similar event today would be complete lights out for decades on today's tech

[@nephilimborn]

We are overdue for a major event from the sun and I think the government knows it. The increase of the number of D.U.M.B.s the banning of Chan Thomas's book in the 60s the recurrent 12000 year disaster cycle is overdue and the people of earth have no idea how bad it's going to be

[@leonardgibney2997]

Underplays? If an event is strong enough and in the right polarity should it hit Earth it has the potential to pretty well cause a mass extinction I've heard. The fact we're still here is because these things seldom come together and the Earth is a small target. Incidentally I'm still trying to figure out how they survived the unattenuated Solar Wind on the Moon during the Apollo missions.

[@nephilimborn]

@@leonardgibney2997 thats easy they didn't. Aside from the fact that the van allen belt would have basically made them hotdogs over a fire in a tin can ,like you said, the exposure to suns direct radiation in full force would have done the same

[@leonardgibney2997]

The Russians didn't get to the Moon because they sent animals up to the Vanallen belts which all came back dead cooked by the radiation. They calculated no animal tissue could survive outside the Earth's protective magnetic field

[@kdavis4910]

And, if the idea of the kill shot is not enough, in approximately 21 years we enter the Grand Solar Minimum. End of 11 year sunspot cycle 26.

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

When the Carrington event happened, it was the trigger for the pole shift, the magnetic field being depleted every since. So now with a weaker field the same size flare or cme' will be much much worst, possibly even completing the pole shift causing Earth's crust to be relocated, places like Antarctica will once again be a tropical paradise and other green areas the ice

[@BobGrubel]

the weakening magnetic field will only magnify this event when it happens and the probabilities are much more than this video seems to imply, also the impacts will be more than the grid. try running a nuclear power plant without computers working or delivery off backup fuel .. or even your car when it's electrical system has been fried.. the side of earth facing the the CME hits will have the most severe impact but it will likely involve us all as it could take many hours for the ejecta to pass thru our magnetic field

[@outlaw451]

Should we all get an alert to stop the car and yank the battery out, or would that do nothing?

[@mashumichelle]

Bravo! Good job!

[@thomasbranson8796]

I am ready for it. All I have to do is flip my switches off on my solar panels and run off my batteries till it is over. In North Carolina when me and my kids lived there, I had my panels hooked up. The whole county lost power, but we had plenty. Screw the power grid! I value my money and will not pay thieves an exhorbant price for power.

[@kdavis4910]

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but even unplugged your solar and batteries likely won't survive this. The telegram machines were unplugged in 1859. They continued to transmit messages from the electricity in the air, caught fire, and melted down anyway. Not to mention the grids will be down so even if you managed to save your personal electricity what good would it do when there's no internet? The elites know this which is why nobody is paying to harden the grids. They want this reset.

[@tracyk3567]

No mention of Earth’s majorly weakened protection field.

[@darrylanton9323]

The whole system needs updating and hardening against outside overloads or dubious hacking!

[@virgoblue1392]

Public schools stating in the 1st grade should teach survival skills on how to live off grid. Instead they spend the entire 12 yrs of teaching how to be a corporate slave.

[@clintonr9804]

Thankfully, earth's magnet field isn't growing weaker. And weaker. And weaker.

[@Kc8qdq]

Ha ha it's is

[@Kc8qdq]

It's flipping

[@Haneunim]

About 4% weaker every 10years so far for the last 50years and more than 5% for the past 2 decades.

[@mrgray5576]

@@Haneunim google south atlantic anomaly

[@danielheartfire614]

Fondly, do I hope. Fervently do I pray, that a massive solar storm may speedily come our way!!! Humanity needs to have a rest button hit on it!!

[@megandolimpio6579]

Everyday

[@mysticalhighpriestessamari4355]

@@megandolimpio6579 Profusely Nonstop!!!

[@Astralwintertiger]

Completely agree

[@tdw5933]

One Carrington Event, please!

[@megandolimpio6579]

Pleeeaaaasssseee

[@beachboardfan9544]

If we see the solar flair doesnt that mean the light from it has already reached us, not that we have 8min to react?

[@melodyscamman244]

Light and X-rays will arrive in eight to ten minutes... the magnetized plasma will actually take a couple of days to arrive, as we are approximately 93 million miles from the sun and high solar winds are about 1.3 million miles per hour... give or take

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

A micronova will arrive in 8 minutes and cause vitrification, but flares , cmes about 24-36 hours and if big enough cause Earth's crust to be electrically charged like a giant capacitor

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

@@melodyscamman244 the dust will arrive in about 17 hours, they are leaving a lot out

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

So going by what data I have poured through, initial blast melting rocks earth facing then about 2/3 of earth will experience the electric current sheet of charged particles wreaking havoc on the crust and ocean as conductors

[@beachboardfan9544]

@@King.DAVid.III2022 Sounds like an opportunity for free electricity!

[@lindacaldwell6251]

It's coming people

[@lindacaldwell6251]

We just had 5000 racing pigeons disappear. They never made their destination.

[@rickmitchell7835]

Not could, Will! Eyes open no fear!

[@carloschambliss2238]

The word SOLAR STORM is what MAKING WONDER what the future HOLDS FOR HUMANITY?

[@joeyjennings9548]

more helpful is showing how to prepare for it..👍🏡 anyone who can watch this has been without power at some time in thier life.

[@cloudjoetwentytwenty8414]

George Carlin has a video on YT of him talking about sudden lack of electricity, is fearfully funny.

[@kristinessTX]

This is a big problem and you guys know it...and we are losing our protection...

[@nephilimborn]

Correction how long until it happens again?

[@amandadonegan2137]

I cant wait. Back to before electricity.... We need this! We are lazy greedy indulgebt and impossibly ignorant of our brutal abuse of our planet. Mother Sun will hopefully sort us out soon.. Plus Pole Flip...... 😎🌞

[@tylerstraub3764]

A lot of 0bservers commenting on here!

[@rashiqirashidi7201]

You guys and I know the big one is well overdue, if you follow the 12000-year sun cycle and the ongoing and weakening of the earths magnetic fields the next big hit is going to be a massive one, so I would think to state, "we are ready to handle the next solar cycle" cycle 25 is a little bit misleading..... But I wish you luck

[@sigglass2183]

Does the power grid contain special devices that will protect them from a solar storm?

[@sigglass2183]

@Jason Hardin Do you know if we will ever do something to protect our grids should a massive solar storm arise?

[@HG-sx5xz]

It’s being researched.

[@jenniferrussell5366]

They are planning that to happen

[@cosmogirl8713]

That is what's going to happen soon our magnetic pole is weakening as well so the Earth is about to tilt and reverse we're already there

[@Kc8qdq]

Come on sun hit me with your best shot !

[@JoePAcalaughs]

Careful what u wish for lol

[@earthworminfertainment]

The bald guy with the glasses might have been the most wrong.

[@imafiretruck7454]

I dunno. The French-Canadian guy obviously hasn't been paying attention to science and/or latest research neither. Lord knows they'll never admit it, though.

[@JackSquat54]

This is a possibility. The last time it happened was back in the seventies.Very minimal damage was done and the power grid was back online in several hours. It is a very rare occasion. We are in a solar minimum right which decreases the possibility of this happening. NOVA PBS is exaggerating and over sensationalizing the subject. I am a ham radio operator and i monitor sun cycles.

[@ryanvess6162]

We are in some sort of a solar minimum but you'd be silly to say it greatly reduces this risk. The sun just released an m class solar flare 90 degrees to the right of us. We've been in a time of extreme quiet for our sun. All that can lead to is a false sense of security as you have.

[@JackSquat54]

@@ryanvess6162 My conclusion is based on 30 + years of observing the sun as a ham radio operator. It is based on astute critical thinking, not silly guessing.

[@JackSquat54]

@@portraitofman2063 Calm down. You are overthinking. This is an event that rarely happens and the last time it did happened, was not catastrophic.

[@tracyk3567]

1989-Quebec blackout.

[@59alpha97]

This channel is so behind the times its embarrassing...Ben Davidson is so far ahead of you folks it sad.

[@wiiliamnoel5250]

SO is a disinfo agent .

[@59alpha97]

@@wiiliamnoel5250 Haha, What disinformation?? Name 1 thing...

[@59alpha97]

@@wiiliamnoel5250 No?? That's what I thought, you have nothing.

[@wiiliamnoel5250]

@@59alpha97 has he mentioned that earth has tilted ,easily seen by watching the moon cartwheeling ,he also works for NASA .the biggest liars in all history .

[@59alpha97]

@@wiiliamnoel5250 No, and No..easily checkable and straight wrong..

[@myaatheist2744]

👌

[@Spongebob007]

So folks may want to have more than a day or 2 of provisions. Just sayin

[@sthelenshistorychannel]

Yaýyy, no more facebook and twitter etc 😂

[@VaultOfTheFuture]

Would this affect the entire globe?

[@emmanuelmathews1718]

theoretically yes

[@jorgeflores6117]

there a story that a priest say a big power shut down will come for 3-5 months and he says the big church knows this

[@heresjohnnywithay2759]

So why is Casper the friendly ghost in the thumbnail?

[@aspitofmud6257]

Yeah I sure hope you're ready and not just blowing smoke up our gump stump.

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

An EMP The wet dream fantasy of Doomsday preppers everywhere

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

Oh yea don't forget that ole Doomsday clock is at 100 seconds to midnight 😆🤣👍😤👁️👁️

[@fredmanicke5078]

@@King.DAVid.III2022 The Doomsday clock is for 'Bad' Technology used to kill our selves...Nukes, NBC warfare and ruining the environment. We need a count down timer for 12,000 year disaster cycle, magnetic pole flip, and incoming galactic current sheet. So good luck for the next 30 years.

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

@@fredmanicke5078 you know it, there's no 13 on the clock 🤓

[@joeyjennings9548]

@@King.DAVid.III2022 if you have a 24 hour clock you are good for a long time 👍

[@King.DAVid.III2022]

@@joeyjennings9548 I don't do clicks or calendars I just quit long ago

[@anthonymuslah8113]

I am from the future , it will happen

[@dlwatib]

I hate being lied to. No, you aren't at all "ready to handle the next solar cycle". You have no idea what's coming if you are overconfident enough to make that claim. Have a little less hubris or you'll be fed humble pie.

[@BAC-bm8em]

Can’t wait for this to happen. No more social media BS. I saw a millennial stocking up on microwave food just in case.

[@marysueeasteregg]

Microwave food? Microwaves won't be working.

[@jamesduncan1076]

The sound bed in these PBS videos is too loud and is a distraction. Better with no sound bed. I'm going to skip these videos.

[@Tommaso77777]

Real science is greatly appreciated! Rapture Ready!

[@albertayunda5521]

If you believe in being raptured their must be something wrong

[@intricatic]

Isn't this supposed to happen in like 2 days? I'm looking forward to all the electronics exploding in tandem! :D

[@albertayunda5521]

2025

[@joemcconnell2674]

Maybe your looking forward. But many people who rely on these electronics to keep them in a job are definitely not looking forward to it. These exploding ruining people's livelihoods and even losing there homes.

[@Luh_kinky]

It won't happen

[@russellgilbert3453]

Pigeons!

[@barbarian1111]

Suspicious observers 🌞 @suspiciousobservers

[@davidmcguinness9187]

Thanks for the information you seem aware

[@barbarian1111]

@@davidmcguinness9187 eyes open no fear be safe Mr. Mcguiness 😊

[@junbug1love]

Our creator is an absolute genius absolutely magnificent our Lord and Creator put a force field around the earth to protect us against this... If an event does happen... It's because God allowed it to happen so understand that it's all part of Revelations in the Bible and... Understand that you can see everything technologically socially politically everything the timeline is speeding up... So just know that if something does happen it's part of Destiny as part of the trials and tribulations that were meant to go through and experience as part of our life cycle for Our Generation... Every generation has their trials and tribulations... This is part of our next level of trials and tribulations coming up for the next 1000 years

[@Henrikbuitenhuis]

Yes IT Will and now we are in a Grand Solar Minimum. We have not Been in a Grand Solar Minimum since 1640

[@mogeking56]

Massive Geomagnetic Storm: Coronal Mass Ejection From the Sun Could Knock Out the Power Grid and Internet: And that’s a problem? Come on we could use a break from the internet and are phones ☎️ and maybe 🤔 start talking to are donkey friends

[@matthewkashnig3061]

It's so preventable too yet 9 out of 10 people have no clue. NottaClue

[@GODCHOSEISRAEL70]

This will happen soon bible says it has to happen

[@Andrew-vo2rs]

K nice but did anyone else notice his background for this video was complete BS

[@repentorperish819]

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus ASAP! Time is short here on earth.

[@crazygravy437]

BLM is watering at the mouth watching this.

[@THE903CLOWNSHOW]

Lol these bs theories are getting old.

[@DennisMook-ky6lx]

Had to stop watching you dont sound serious enough

[@ToIsleOfView]

No evidence was given of why we are "ready to handle the next solar cycle". If the grid circuit breakers shut off the grid due to a CME, how long before it comes back on? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_1972_solar_storm