30-minute warning before killer solar storm strikes, warns NASA as it deploys AI system
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Killer solar storms pose a significant threat to Earth and shockingly, they can cause power outages and communication disruptions including phones and Internet. Now, NASA has harnessed AI to create a revolutionary early warning system.
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The Role of AI in solar storm prediction: The AI system offers 30-minute notice period before a devastating solar storm strikes. NASA's team is applying AI to analyze solar storm data, aiming to enhance preparedness.
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30-Minute Solar Storm Warning: This is possible simply because the speed of light, which is faster than solar material ejected by huge explosions on the Sun, will reach Earth sooner.
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However, at the most, this system by NASA can provide a 30-minute advance notice of a killer solar storm strike on Earth.
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Past solar storms have caused hours-long power outages and damaged electrical and communication infrastructure. Quebec event caused a huge power grid failure. Carrington event over 150 years ago is also a horrific example.
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Several satellites, including ACE, Wind, IMP-8, and Geotail, supply data to NASA. However, predicting solar storm impacts requires more than just knowing a solar storm is coming.
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The NASA researchers collected data from surface-based stations affected by previous solar storms detected by satellites, bridging the gap between satellite information and on-ground impact.
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DAGGER, the AI model developed for this purpose by NASA, can predict the severity and direction of solar storm events in less than a second and can make predictions every minute.
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DAGGER is a game-changer in predicting solar storms globally, overcoming previous computational challenges. It can provide quick predictions for the entire Earth's surface to NASA.
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DAGGER will be available on an open-source platform, allowing utility and communication companies to integrate it into their systems before the peak of the 11-year solar cycle in 2025, ensuring faster response to a killer solar storm.