There has been a lot of semi- and pseudo-scientific speculation about the consequences of astronomical earth changes. Mostly surrounding the possibility that meteors are the most dramatic astronomical event that has, or will, affect the earth.
However such serious investigations as the Greenland Ice Sheet Project are yielding very interesting results. But more interesting are the well-documented solar cycles that NASA has tried unsuccessfully to predict with greater accuracy.
The sun at at 26,000 light years from the core of the Milky Way is the heavenly body most influential on our planet. And though the coming peak in its activity cycle does not necessarily have to "wreak havoc", it certainly seems like something that world leaders should be aware of, and perhaps even prepared for, if not preparing for.
Political realities will probably not allow for vast expenditures of money to prepare for something unpredictable. But that is precisely why individuals should make themselves more aware. I personally believe the notions of "survivalists" that individuals can hide from the events is a counter-productive solution.
Full Version: Solar activity, astronomical movement and earth changes
I find anything related to space the most fascinating topics, especially the big bang theory. If the bang is true (which most physicists believe it is) then the notion that we (humans, animals, plants, water, planets, stars, the universe, etc.) are all literally related to one another, becuz the chemical molecules and compounds that were released/formed after the "explosion" can be traced back to that miraculous occurrence, is true. So the "dna" of Jupiter, Mars, or the Sun, & human dna, comes from the exact same source. That fact, plus the notion that pre-big bang the "universe" was believed to be no larger than the size of a marble. But after just a few seconds it expanded (& it still is expanding) to such lengths that it is truly an awestricken thought. Both theories are simply mind-blowing to me. Plus one has to consider the fact that the universe is believed to be 'round 12-20 billion years old (altho I've read recent articles that it's more likely between 12-15) & the earth is 4-5 billion years old.
There is also the belief w/in the scientific community that ultimately the universe will reach its "maximum" expansion & that it'll start retracting back to its original size. That then leads one to believe that universe could possibly repeat the whole process again: "marble," big bang, expansion, retraction. & if that's the case then one has to question if the current bang is truly the 1st time it occurred? Could it be that there were other big bangs b4 the one we are living in now? & how many will follow after the current one? Imagine the years we are talking about if all of those scenarios are true!
Ok, the geek in me has rambled enuf!
There is also the belief w/in the scientific community that ultimately the universe will reach its "maximum" expansion & that it'll start retracting back to its original size. That then leads one to believe that universe could possibly repeat the whole process again: "marble," big bang, expansion, retraction. & if that's the case then one has to question if the current bang is truly the 1st time it occurred? Could it be that there were other big bangs b4 the one we are living in now? & how many will follow after the current one? Imagine the years we are talking about if all of those scenarios are true!
Ok, the geek in me has rambled enuf!
I'm more concerned about what will happen when millions of people driving their cars while talking on their cellphone/twitterer/electronic organizer suddenly have to go through withdrawal because a sunspot has taken out a communication satellite.
Or what if the military network is rendered temporarily unable to monitor domestic terrorists for the same reason.
More likely is the disruption of normal commercial traffic causing a sudden downturn in already weak economies.
Of course federal governments worldwide will be expected to directly or indirectly pay for the reconstruction of a networks "vital to national security".
And insurance companies either will have covered their asses or find ways to get out of paying any policy that could be remotely interpreted as payable due to an "act of God", just like market downturns.
This is before one speculates on the opportunism of "rogue" governments that might take advantage of the resulting chaos to settle scores with whomever they like the least at the moment. In particular the middle east and Korea would be vulnerable. But India and Pakistan's governments might also panic about the other.
Or what if the military network is rendered temporarily unable to monitor domestic terrorists for the same reason.
More likely is the disruption of normal commercial traffic causing a sudden downturn in already weak economies.
Of course federal governments worldwide will be expected to directly or indirectly pay for the reconstruction of a networks "vital to national security".
And insurance companies either will have covered their asses or find ways to get out of paying any policy that could be remotely interpreted as payable due to an "act of God", just like market downturns.
This is before one speculates on the opportunism of "rogue" governments that might take advantage of the resulting chaos to settle scores with whomever they like the least at the moment. In particular the middle east and Korea would be vulnerable. But India and Pakistan's governments might also panic about the other.
You're such a fatalist. 
QUOTE(sportinlife @ Nov 15 2009, 04:46 PM) 
I'm more concerned about what will happen when millions of people driving their cars while talking on their cellphone/twitterer/electronic organizer suddenly have to go through withdrawal because a sunspot has taken out a communication satellite.
Or what if the military network is rendered temporarily unable to monitor domestic terrorists for the same reason.
More likely is the disruption of normal commercial traffic causing a sudden downturn in already weak economies.
Of course federal governments worldwide will be expected to directly or indirectly pay for the reconstruction of a networks "vital to national security".
And insurance companies either will have covered their asses or find ways to get out of paying any policy that could be remotely interpreted as payable due to an "act of God", just like market downturns.
This is before one speculates on the opportunism of "rogue" governments that might take advantage of the resulting chaos to settle scores with whomever they like the least at the moment. In particular the middle east and Korea would be vulnerable. But India and Pakistan's governments might also panic about the other.
The sunspot cycle has been going on in approximately 11 year intervals for a long time. So this is nothing new. The next peak is forecast to be the lowest since 1928, this should come as good news. We survived 2000, 1989 etc. and the activity then was much higher. The world didn't lose all communication in 2000 when sunspot activity peaked at 125 (granted there may have been some interruptions.) So now at a forecast of 90 for 2013, I would think it would not be much different.
What I find more interesting is if we're to enter a Maunder Minimum in the future how that would offset the idea of Global Warming.
I have already read a fair amount and seen a fair amount of information regarding the 2012 end of the Mayan calendar and predictions and what not. At this point, and based on what I understand and know, I am not too concerned about the end of the earth or anything like it as some are predicting.. Remember all the hullbaloo over the Y2K thing? If anything, I have heard some really positive predictions that at this time point there will be a new enlightenment regarding life on earth....gosh, one can sure hope! 
Sunspot flare intensity is unpredictable, and the effects even less so. What is known is that, like storms, it only takes a big one to do a lot of damage even during a low average peak. And the number of targets increases each time there is another peak, due to technology constantly spreading, and our dependence on it constantly growing.
Potential political fallout is entirely controllable if we want to. That is a big if.
We have no idea whether the conincidence of the end of a 26,000 year cycle of the earths precession in 2012 matters at all. But it is just another unpredictable. Personally I don't believe any of the ancient cultures that seemed to have been able to calculate the astronomical movements actually predicted an "end of the world", only an end to a cycle.
Potential political fallout is entirely controllable if we want to. That is a big if.
We have no idea whether the conincidence of the end of a 26,000 year cycle of the earths precession in 2012 matters at all. But it is just another unpredictable. Personally I don't believe any of the ancient cultures that seemed to have been able to calculate the astronomical movements actually predicted an "end of the world", only an end to a cycle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/science/17essay.html?_r=1
Well that answers that question.
Well that answers that question.
Our understanding of how the Earth's magnetic core behaves is fledgling, and may be less than what ancient astronomers knew.
However supercomputers have been used to speculate in a practical way about how that core's poles could reverse.
The consequences of such a shift would probably be traumatic. And though the model suggests this shift would take place over a period of about a millineum, we give little credence to how astronomical events may affect a body the size of the earth or even one one the size of the sun.
Meanwhile here is a fun graphic that appears in the link to show how they speculate that shift might occur.
Only last year scientists gathered evidence that another shift may be "imminent". Our theories about the timing of the shifts is mostly limited to speculation based on observations that can be made either from the surface or relatively shallow depths. Who knows if it is possible that previous civilizations that could make astronomical calculations that amaze us could not also have used those calculations to exceed earth theories.
However supercomputers have been used to speculate in a practical way about how that core's poles could reverse.
The consequences of such a shift would probably be traumatic. And though the model suggests this shift would take place over a period of about a millineum, we give little credence to how astronomical events may affect a body the size of the earth or even one one the size of the sun.
Meanwhile here is a fun graphic that appears in the link to show how they speculate that shift might occur.
Only last year scientists gathered evidence that another shift may be "imminent". Our theories about the timing of the shifts is mostly limited to speculation based on observations that can be made either from the surface or relatively shallow depths. Who knows if it is possible that previous civilizations that could make astronomical calculations that amaze us could not also have used those calculations to exceed earth theories.
There is yet another example of how our constipated political system may become a threat to national security in this editorial. Legislation to prevent damage from real solar storms is stalled in the Senate. And unlike the economic crisis, there is scientific justification for making a relatively small investment in prevention.
We have seen what that did for us during lead-up to the current economic meltdown, which looks steadily headed toward a bad Hollywood sequel if current market fluctuations are to judge.
The frequency and occurence of solar flares is difficult to predict. But their history is well-documented.
The difference between past storms and future ones is our technological advance. There is little motivation in the private sector to prepare for something that is unpredictable - like hurricane Katrina or the Gulf Oil Spill - but the national interest of the US and other nations is clear. How we act now will determine our fates.
QUOTE
This isn’t science fiction. Though less frequent than large hurricanes, significant storms have hit earth several times over the last 150 years, most notably in 1859 and 1921. Those occurred before the development of the modern power grid; recovering from a storm that size today would cost up to $2 trillion a year for several years.
Unfortunately the conservative climate in this country tends to leave everything to the good graces of the private sector.We have seen what that did for us during lead-up to the current economic meltdown, which looks steadily headed toward a bad Hollywood sequel if current market fluctuations are to judge.
The frequency and occurence of solar flares is difficult to predict. But their history is well-documented.
The difference between past storms and future ones is our technological advance. There is little motivation in the private sector to prepare for something that is unpredictable - like hurricane Katrina or the Gulf Oil Spill - but the national interest of the US and other nations is clear. How we act now will determine our fates.
Now, now, this might be good for the economy! Just think of all the jobs it would create if our electrical grid were fried by sunspots! This just may be the bump we need to get things rolling again...LOL!
For those here who enjoy viewing the heavens, I invite you all up to Joshua Tree when the weather cools there. JT is in the high Mojave Desert, which allows for the ultimate in star-gazing. You can search on Google for scheduled 'Star Party" events.
Joshua Tree is north of Palm Springs, about 40 miles/40 minutes.
Oct-April provide best viewing, including several annual meteor showers. Come see?
TRL
Joshua Tree is north of Palm Springs, about 40 miles/40 minutes.
Oct-April provide best viewing, including several annual meteor showers. Come see?
TRL
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