An official plan for what to do if space weather hits New Zealand, and damages critical power and communications infrastructure, has been unveiled by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Space weather refers to events beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The primary source is the sun, with disturbances coming in the form of solar flares, coronal mass ejections and magnetic storms.
Scientists from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced in mid-October that the 11-yearly peak in the sun’s activity known as the solar maximum was well under way, which increased the chance of solar flares.
While the flares do not pose a direct risk to human health, they can mess with electricity production, communication and navigation equipment crucial to society.
NEMA director for civil emergency management John Price said in the foreword for the plan that space weather has always existed, but today’s reliance on satellites and electricity had increased the risk.
“A significant space weather event will disrupt critical infrastructure and essential services, preventing communities from accessing essential goods, and potentially impacting the ability for society to function as we know it. ”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/535597/solar-storms-plans-for-extreme-storm-hitting-nz-revealed
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