Yet another massive solar event took place on Wednesday last week, and the resulting energy will be passing by earth tomorrow. For those who are far enough north or south, be ready for a light show in the heavens.
Wednesday, there was a massive solar storm that took place and the sun released a CME (coronal mass ejection) and it was aimed at the earth yet again. Evem though this is a pretty significant CME, it is not powerful enough to cause too much damage. There may be issues with the interweb and other communications, but it will only be temporary and not last long.
The surface of the sun is nothing more than enormous magnetic arches made of plasma. The the magnetic arch becomes unstable, it "snaps" creating a solar flare or CME. Some of these are far more powerful than other, hurling massive amounts of plasma and energy through space. If one big enough hit earth, it would fry out internet.
But the internet uses underground, and underwater robotic fibers that use light. How does the magnetic storm effect light?
You're right nameless user. It isnt the cables or light that are effected, but the conductors that are scattered throught the globe that would be damaged and and repairing. No easy or quick task. Imagine a world sudden without internet... some could cope, but majority would go mad... no KB...
We are safe from this particular event, but it is only a matter of time before we are clobbered by the energy of a CME.
in case your wondering the size of a solar flare, and the amouth of mass and energy released, here is a quick artist comparison