The New York Railroad storm of May 14, 1921, showcased the dramatic effects of solar storms, as it illuminated NYC's skies and caused significant disruptions to the railroad system. Excess currents shut down train signals, leading to a control tower fire, while residents suffered from smoke. Currently, scientists warn that similar solar storms could cause catastrophic failures in modern power infrastructure, particularly in regions like the east coast, where many nuclear power plants could face grave dangers during prolonged blackouts.
When a solar storm's electrically charged particles envelop Earth, they cause geomagnetic storms that generate electric fields in the ground, inducing electric currents in power grids.
Scientists estimate that solar storms powerful enough to collapse portions of modern power grids for months may hit Earth more often than once in a century.
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