In mid 2011, the Sun is once again on the eve of solar
cycle intensity lower than usual, at least that's what the forecasters say. The
"Carrington Event" held in 1859 and received the name in honor of
astronomer Richard Carrington who witnessed the solar flare that caused it
reminds us that strong storms can occur even when the sun is going through a
cycle nominally weak.
In 1859, the most serious consequences were a day or
two without telegraphic messages and sky watchers puzzled many tropical
islands.
But in 2011, the situation would be much more
serious. The spate of blackouts, spread across continents by the power
lines for long distance, it could take weeks or even months, the time needed by
engineers to repair the damaged transformers.
