[Milsurplus] Coronal Mass Ejection

[Bruce Gentry]

According to many things I have read,  a CME causes  a low frequency but 
extreme  magnetic field. Damaging individual devices is fairly unlikely 
if they are not connected to the power line. Devices powered by 
batteries or generators on the premesis with no connection to power 
lines would probably be spared.  The transmission, and to  lesser 
degree, local distribution networks, are vulnerable because they act 
like huge loops, sort of like windings in a generator or transformer. 
They would develope fluctuating DC superimposed on the AC in power 
distribution transformers, but that can be greatly reduced or even 
eliminated by installing huge capacitors between the lines and 
transformers to block the DC. This has been recommended, but utilities 
don't care about anything except their profits in the next 15 minutes 
and refuse to consider the investment. The other precaution is to shut 
off the power grid and disconnect the transmission lines from 
transformers before the particles arrive and keeping it off until until 
the event is over. That would not be easy or popular, but a few hours 
without power would be far better than none at all for months or years.

     Bruce



> On 8/1/2014 8:57 AM, Peter Gottlieb wrote:
>>
>> Does anyone really know the kind of surge/interference a CME would 
>> cause?  Is it a low frequency event which mostly disrupts things like 
>> the grid due to it being such a large antenna? 
>
> Peter, all -
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