Prepare for the coming space weather storm

摘要

On 13-14 March 1989, Earth experienced its largest geomagnetic storm in decades: a barrage of hot, ionized particles streamed towards the planet, wreaking havoc on its magnetic field and electrical systems. The storm caused a power blackout in Quebec, Canada, leaving 5 million people without electricity for 9 hours in cold weather and causing Can$2 billion (US$2 billion) in damages and losses to business. It also permanently wiped out a US$12-million transformer in the United States, and caused two large UK transformers to be sent back to the factory for repairs. Space agencies temporarily lost track of some 1,600 spacecraft.