Natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires have been causing unimaginable destruction across the country. But there is another phenomenon that has the potential to cause immeasurable damage to modern infrastructure – coronal mass ejections and solar flares.
The sun is millions of kilometres away from the earth – yet disturbances on its volatile surface can push us back into the dark ages.
Solar Flares & Coronal Mass Ejections (CME)
There are super active spots on the sun where the magnetic field is particularly concentrated. Often there are explosions around these regions which result in the ejection of a wide spectrum of radiations running the gamut from visible light to X-rays. These events are known as solar flares and based on their intensity – which is measured on a logarithmic scale – they can either expose air travellers to an increased dose of radiation or wreak havoc on GPS and satellite communication.
While solar flares are to be held in awe – coronal mass ejections (CME), often confused with solar flares are even more potent. They take a while to reach us but the directional blast comprises solar matter particles which cause distortions in the earth’s magnetic field and can cripple electrical grids.
NASA’s Response to Solar Flares and CMEs
NASA has a good idea of the repercussions of solar flares and coronal discharges. In its attempt to “keep the lights on,” it has started the Solar Shield project through which the North American grid system can identify power stations and generators that might be hit the hardest during an event so that pre-emptive and remedial measures can be put in place.
More Solar Flare Mitigation Techniques
NASA is vigilant. But that doesn’t mean all industries can rest easy. A class X behemoth can still cause a lot of damage to ground equipment, especially for military, aviation and sophisticated telecommunication.
Under these circumstances EMI/RFI shielding products prove to be effective. They act as a buffer between items and the coursing electromagnetic currents ensuring the continued operation of sensitive equipment.
Vanguard has been at the forefront of this niche and is capable of supplying EMI/RFI shielding gaskets, manufactured to customer specifications.
Please speak with a representative by contacting us at 203.744.7265 or click here to learn more about our capabilities.
