A recent tabletop exercise has highlighted the major weaknesses in America’s preparedness for severe solar storms. The simulated event revealed a lack of communication protocols and insufficient measurements from space and on the ground, hindering effective response to such incidents.
In May 2024, participants representing local and national government agencies gathered at two sites in Maryland and Colorado to learn how ready they were for a major solar storm. They pretended that several giant coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were hurtling toward Earth, which can wreak havoc with the planet’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere.
The exercise found that a lack of communication protocols and insufficient measurements from space and on the ground hampered effective response to such incidents. The participants realized that the orientation of the magnetic field in the plasma carried by CMEs plays a significant role in determining their impact, but this information is only known about 30 minutes before the storm hits.
The report highlights the need to deploy more satellites to improve forecasting capabilities and provide earlier warnings. In a real-life situation, the primary impacts would lead to serious disruptions in many sectors, including aviation, emergency response, and healthcare.
The exercise coincided with the Gannon Storm, which triggered local power outages and widespread radio and satellite communication blackouts. Although it was not as potent as the 1859 Carrington Event, the storm demonstrated the potential for significant impacts from solar storms. Scientists worry that more solar drama is on tap in the coming years.
The exercise concluded that government agencies across the board need to cooperate to prepare for significant space weather events. Developing communication and messaging templates like those used in other natural disaster situations could help mitigate the impact of such incidents.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/the-us-isnt-prepared-for-a-big-solar-storm-exercise-finds