Mysterious Solar Storm Magnet

nivek

As Above So Below
I-95 on U.S. East Coast is a Mysterious Solar Storm Magnet

i95-570x428.jpg


If you’ve driven anywhere on the U.S. East Coast from Maine to Florida, you’ve probably traveled on some portion of Interstate 95. While your concerns while driving (assuming you’re not texting – stop it if you are) likely focus on things on the surface – traffic, potholes, rest stops, etc. – a new study has issued a warning that the biggest dangers encountered while traveling on that freeway are deep underground and on the surface of the sun.

Wait, what?
It’s an active problem that a lot of people are trying to solve and understand.
“It” — according to space scientist Christopher Balch at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado — is a geoelectric field running along I-95 from Richmond, Virginia, to Portland, Maine. Geoelectric fields are created during intense magnetic solar storms and can cause severe damage to the electrical power grid infrastructure.

Concern for these storms was heightened on March 13, 1989, when a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection four days prior resulted in a nine-hour power outage for 6 million people served by Hydro-Québec’s electricity transmission system. Quebec was hit the hardest because it sits on a rock shield that reflected the current back up to the surface instead of letting it pass harmlessly into the earth.

Guess what lies underneath I-95?

According to an article in Bloomberg, the U.S. Geological Survey has been looking for other geological insulators like Quebec’s 300-million-year-old Paleozoic-era rock layer in order to pinpoint areas in danger of being affected in a similar manner during the next 100-year solar storm, which they fear will be happening far more often than once-a-century.

Jeffrey Love, a research geophysicist with the Geological Survey and author of an upcoming report, has been mapping the geoelectric fields in the U.S. and found the rock insulation under I-95 and the electrical power grids serving Washington, Boston, New York and other major eastern cities.

Now that they know they’re in danger of a major outage during the next massive solar storm, what are power companies doing to prepare for and prevent problems? Anyone? Bueller?
We only really have roughly 35 years of digital data. Earth conductivity is something that is just beginning to be available in more realistic types of models.
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Christopher Balch delivers the bad news that the best anyone can do right know is model the areas that would be affected and simulate the catastrophic aftermath. Digging up the rock layer is not an option.

What should you do if you’re driving on I-95 and notice the street light flickering and a lot of cars taking the next exit west?

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Black Angus

Honorable
I live on a ridge of ironstone, its a lighting attractor something shocking......

Local Telco engineer was telling me its the highest call out area around.

It can get expensive too replacing electrical gear, nothing is safe.
Even took out my natural gas hot water heater once, came up the water pipes and fried it.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Which rock formations is he talking about?.....it doesn't say in this article either.

The article say its a 300-million-year-old Paleozoic-era rock layer...

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Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
The article say its a 300-million-year-old Paleozoic-era rock layer...

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Yes I know they said about some bedrock in Quebec.......but which one and where are they talking about. I95 doesn't go thru Quebec. Even in Quebec it isn't specific.....it also doesn't say which rock type of that age causes the problems.....(there are three).

That is why they have to be specific as to what type of rock they are referring to both in Quebec and along the I95 corridor. I happen to be familiar with the geology of the New England portion of I95 so I'm curious.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Yes I know they said about some bedrock in Quebec.......but which one and where are they talking about. I95 doesn't go thru Quebec. Even in Quebec it isn't specific.....it also doesn't say which rock type of that age causes the problems.....(there are three).

That is why they have to be specific as to what type of rock they are referring to both in Quebec and along the I95 corridor. I happen to be familiar with the geology of the New England portion of I95 so I'm curious.

They were specific enough for me but I am not a geologist which I assume a geologist would have better resources that I to follow up and gather more details, to me it clearly says they found the same type formations they were seeking...I guess we need a geologist to help us get more details, but I am satisfied and all my questions have been answered...

the U.S. Geological Survey has been looking for other geological insulators like Quebec’s 300-million-year-old Paleozoic-era rock layer in order to pinpoint areas in danger of being affected in a similar manner during the next 100-year solar storm, which they fear will be happening far more often than once-a-century.

Jeffrey Love, a research geophysicist with the Geological Survey and author of an upcoming report, has been mapping the geoelectric fields in the U.S. and found the rock insulation under I-95 and the electrical power grids serving Washington, Boston, New York and other major eastern cities.
 

Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
They were specific enough for me but I am not a geologist which I assume a geologist would have better resources that I to follow up and gather more details, to me it clearly says they found the same type formations they were seeking...I guess we need a geologist to help us get more details, but I am satisfied and all my questions have been answered...

Mine have as well......but if they were more specific I'd be able to explain why and where the effects would be stronger. However since there are likely a couple dozen 300 million year old formations along the I95 corridor I'm unable to help.

I could make a number of guesses if you'd prefer.....but waiting for the upcoming report might be best. I'd like to be able to answer your questions and help.....its just that guessing isn't in my nature in some cases.

All three rock types can have magnetic materials.......but igneous and metamorphic are likely to have stronger magnetism than sedimentary formations.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
It must be a common formation if its also under Boston, New York, and other major eastern cities as they claim...Wasn't there a dormant volcano discovered recently in the northeast?...Would this give any kind of clue, are there similar rock formations around other volcanoes in the US or is this something more random?...

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Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
It must be a common formation if its also under Boston, New York, and other major eastern cities as they claim...Wasn't there a dormant volcano discovered recently in the northeast?...Would this give any kind of clue, are there similar rock formations around other volcanoes in the US or is this something more random?...

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Yes apparently there might be a new volcano in New England in 50 million years.

I'm not aware of any common formation under all those cities and New England.......perhaps some are similar but not the same. Since there are numerous rock formations of various ages under each of those cities its hard to say which one the author of the articles is talking about.

The only super group that is formed by similar forces that runs from Nova Scotia to Georgia is far younger than 300 million years and only marginally follows I95.

This case really does need the details from the source......maybe soon the scientific article will fill in the blanks.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Yes apparently there might be a new volcano in New England in 50 million years.

Would that give an indication of what type of rock formations are beneath the surface?...I'm assuming volcanic eruptions cannot occur through some types of rock layers because of density and thickness or can eruptions happen anywhere?...

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Castle-Yankee54

Celestial
Would that give an indication of what type of rock formations are beneath the surface?...I'm assuming volcanic eruptions cannot occur through some types of rock layers because of density and thickness or can eruptions happen anywhere?...

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No that doesn't give and indication of the rock types below the surface......geophysical studies are doing that. Many of the types of rock formations also outcrop at ground level.

Volcanic activity can occur anywhere......all it needs is enough heat. Most if not all rock formations also have fractures which are zones of weakness that would also allow magma to approach the surface.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
No that doesn't give and indication of the rock types below the surface......geophysical studies are doing that. Many of the types of rock formations also outcrop at ground level.

Volcanic activity can occur anywhere......all it needs is enough heat. Most if not all rock formations also have fractures which are zones of weakness that would also allow magma to approach the surface.

Yes I agree, enough heat and pressure volcanic eruptions could occur anywhere in the world but it would also seem plausible that it would take the path of least resistance too...If there are weaker areas in the earth's geology then eruptions could occur there first, which may also give an indication of the type of rock formations...

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