May 2024 Solar Storm May Cause $500 Million Loss to Farmers: Study

Quick summary

• A study revealed that the Gannon Solar Storm in may 2024 caused GPS signal disruptions lasting up to two days in parts of the U.S., with errors reaching 230 feet at peak levels.
• Farmers in the U.S. Midwest experienced critically important issues with GPS-guided machinery during planting season, leading to crop losses totaling over $500 million.
• The solar storm created disturbances in Earth’s ionosphere,which affected GPS signals passing through it. Researchers observed a “wall of ionospheric plasma” across North America during the event.
• Aircraft adn other systems depending on precise GPS signals also suffered from disturbances beyond acceptable limits for safety and operation.
• This was noted as one of the strongest storms in 20 years but is minor compared to historical events like the carrington storm of 1859, which had global impacts on telecommunication systems.
• New technologies utilizing real-time forecasting and AI-driven signal corrections were suggested as potential solutions for future similar events.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Gannon Solar Storm highlights vulnerabilities in critical global infrastructure dependent on space-enabled technologies like GPS-a concern for technologically advancing nations such as India, where agriculture heavily affects economic stability and growth patterns. India’s rising reliance on precision farming powered by satellite data underscores how such solar weather incidents could disrupt key sectors domestically if preparedness is inadequate. Furthermore, aviation safety protocols must be robust enough to address extreme disruptions akin to those faced during this storm.

India may benefit from prioritizing research into ionospheric effects on its satellites while exploring collaborations for advancements such as AI-driven corrections highlighted by this study from Boston University researchers. Proactive attention toward building resilient technologies can minimize risks while ensuring uninterrupted functionality amid space weather challenges.

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Images attached:

!Wisps of green light stretch across the sky above a farm (Northern lights seen over a farmhouse in Iceland)

!Green ribbons over barn and pastures at Greaney’s Turkey Farm (image credit: Michael Seamans/Getty Images)