Protection From Upcoming Solar Storm?

[Ed Cordes]

According to many legit space and Solar science sites we are soon to be bombarded by a massive Solar Storm. Here is a link to an article on Fox with details.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/...-peak-in-2013/

Here is an article on www.spaceweather.com with a cool video of the Solar eruptions causing the phenomenon.

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive....h=01&year=2013 Click on the bluish Sun Video.

I wonder if our images are at risk? Should we shroud our hard drives in some kind of shield? If I had one of those old lead lined bags for getting film through X-Ray machines at airports I might consider putting a drive or 2 in it, but alas I got rid of those a long time ago.

So, what do you think? Is this a real risk or just over reacting to the "Space Hype"?

[BobbyPerkins]

Since when did Fox start listining to Scientist?

However, it's always wise to have an off-site or "unplugged" storage solution as theres many other real risk besides massive solar storms.

[Roger Clark]

Hi Ed,

When the big solar flare comes, I'll get my gear out, head to the country and be ready to photograph the aurora. See:
http://www.clarkvision.com/articles/aurora.photography/


I even photographed banded auroral airglow at Bosque in December.

Regarding solar flares and equipment damage, it mainly effects long power lines, which then can cause voltage spikes that damage equipment. So if the superstorm happens, simply unplugging one's equipment should be adequate. There are cosmic rays every day that penetrate our bodies and equipment and no lead lined pouch will stop them. More like a deep mine.
So burying your backups could insulate them from solar wind and some cosmic rays, and probably fire too. And if in a weather tight box, flood too.

Roger