Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
ton Event, would wipe out many hundreds of these transformers, including roughly a third of
the large power transformers in the United States, and a higher percentage in countries at latit-
udes located closer to the north or south pole (there are fewer solar-storm-induced effects as
you get closer to the equator). Widespread destruction of these power transformers would com-
pletely overwhelm the world's manufacturing capacity for such devices, and that is if all the
manufacturing facilities for such things were in areas that still had a power grid that was intact,
which is highly unlikely. Such an event would have a devastating effect worldwide from which
it would take many years, if ever, for the world to recover. It would be much like rebuilding
Europe after World War II, only the chances are that we would not have a technological super-
power that was still intact to provide the technology and manufacturing base to drive the recov-
ery effort.
The geomagnetic effects of a solar super storm similar in size to the 1929 super storm will
cause less damage to sensitive electronics than an EMP event, so long as they are not connec-
ted to long runs of wiring that are susceptible to induced currents from E3-type effects.
However, the geographical extent of a solar super storm will almost certainly cover a much
broader area of the planet than that caused by an EMP. Thus the long-lasting effect on the grid,
and society in general, could mean the end of the world as we know it, if the geomagnetic
storm was of a size and duration similar to the 1929 super storm or the Carrington Event.
Planning Ahead for EMP or a Solar Super Storm
Planning ahead to survive and thrive after an EMP event or solar super storm, requires longer-
term strategies, more supplies, and a varied, self-reliant skill set that far exceeds those required
for surviving most other crises or catastrophes. If you happen to live in a rural area that grows
more food than it uses, your chances are much better than if you live in a city or in an area that
is not conducive to growing your own food. In that case, if you are able to produce your own
food, or trade and barter goods, skilled services, or manual labor for food and essential items,
then you stand a decent chance of coming through this ordeal in good shape.
If you wish to plan ahead to survive a major EMP event or super solar storm, this topic
provides a good start, but you should expand your survival skill set, as well as your stock of
long-term supplies. In that case, I suggest you start by picking up a copy of
The Encyclopedia
of Country Living
, by Carla Emery,
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It
by
James Wesley, Rawles (editor of
www.survivalblog.com
),
When Technology Fails
by Matthew
Stein, at least one or two topics on wild edible plants native to your area that include clear color
