Severe Space Weather

[wm]

{RANT ON}I wish that the snippets of articles AdamG posts could have a few of additions.
First, it would be nice if the poster would make something of these posts--explain the "so what" of the post. The following is an example--the post had no subject and no analysis or discussion.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news...eading-our-way

Word of today's blast, technically known as a coronal mass ejection or CME, comes via SpaceWeather.com's Tony Phillips. NASA says the outburst sparked an M3.2-class solar flare, as well as a stream of electrically charged particles that is due to interact with Earth's magnetic field on Saturday.

Next , a follow up would be nice. The linked article noted a possible impact. So after 4 days, one might expect to see a follow on to identify what actually happened when the storm hit. But, all we have from AdamG is a new post about another space storm that might be coming to harm us.
In fact, on Jan 22, a couple of follow ups were made to the original story: Excerpted from one is the following

The storm of electrically charged particles is projected to take a relatively non-threatening path past our planet. "We think it'll go to the north of Earth ... rather than right at us," he said.

and the later follow up had this to say

The Space Weather Prediction Center is showing a rise in solar particle flux, and European observers are passing along some great pictures.

(As an aside, I'm not clear how brighter Northern Lights seen afurther south has much to do with Small Wars. )



Finally, the snippets tend to be pulled out of context. In this case, as the following quotation from that same article shows, the scare found in the posted excerpt was almost completely dismissed 2 sentences later.

M-class flares are capable of causing brief radio blackouts near the poles as well as minor radiation storms, but it's unlikely that this one will disrupt communication or power transmission networks. The forecast would be different if it were an X-class storm heading our way.

{RANT OFF}