End Of The World 2012

 

SOLAR FLARES

Solar flares happen when when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields is suddenly released causing an explosion of plasma shot up from the sun's surface.  Apparently the energy from these solar flares can be enough to produce 100 billion atomic bombs.  But it's nothing to be concerned about because this all happens low down in the sun's corona (outer surface).  This burst of electromagnetic radiation produced from these solar flares includes radio waves, x-rays and gamma-rays.  Sometimes there will be a CME (see further down for explanation) associated with solar flares.  Solar Flares and CME's can happen independently of each other.

Solar flares are classified according x-ray brightness in the wavelength range 1 to 8 Angstroms.

1.  X-class solar flares -  major events: can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. 

2.  M-class solar flares - medium events: can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions.

3.  C-class solar flares - small events: these have hardly any noticeable effects on Earth.

Solar activity operates on an 11 year cycle with the Sun being more active in the 11th year.  The next cycle to be completed will be in 2012.  This is why some are expecting extra large solar flares in 2012.

The table below shows the strength of X-class solar flares from 1976 when x-ray data was available.  Only solar flares above X9 are shown.  Each "x" cross in the table (under the years 1978-2006) indicates a solar flare.  If you look to the left of the cross (to the first column) you will see the strength of solar flares ranging from X9.0 to X28+.  You can see that even though an 11 year cycle finished in 2001 (where we would expect more activity) it does not mean that there cannot be large solar flares at other times. 

This is seen in the November 4, 2003 flare which is the largest of all recorded solar flares.  

So it is not logical to suggest that the earth will be mortally wounded by a solar flare or solar flares in 2012 just because that is when the next 11 cycle starts/ends.  It is not logical because large solar flares can happen at any time.  There is therefore no reason to believe at that the completion of the next 11 year cycle in 2012 a solar flare will destroy the earth.  And even after we had an unprecedented X-class solar flare at X28, the earth is still here.  Most people probably didn't even know it happened!

78

80

82

84

89

90

91

92

97

01

03

05

06

X28+

X

X20.0

x

x

X17.2

x

X17.0

x

X15.0

x

x

X14.4

x

X13.0

x

x

X12.9

x

X12.0

x

xxxx

X10.1

x

x

X10.0

xx

x

X9.8

x

x

X9.4

x

X9.3

x

X9.0

x

x

x

CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS - CMEs

Magnetic fields in the sun can heat the sun's gases to tens of thousands of degrees. This energy can explode rapidly out of the sun's corona (the unstable outer surface) at very high speeds ejecting up to 10 billion tons of ionised gas into the solar system at speeds of up to 2 million miles per hour.  These events are called coronal mass ejections (CME).  This is different to solar flares because the plasma actually lifts off from and leaves (is ejected from) the surface of the sun.  It is then carried by solar winds into the solar system and can be as big as the sun itself.  A CME can result in magnetic storms when its gasses interact with the Earth's magnetic field.  This distorts the shape of our magnetic field and speeds up the electrically charged particles that are trapped inside.

In November 4, 2003 a CME associated with the X28 solar flare, left the sun traveling at 2300 kilometres per second (8.2 million km/h).  It's effect on the planet was minimal because the full blast of the CME was directed away from the earth.


MAGNETOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE & ATMOSPHERE - Earth's "force fields".

So far, the effects of increased solar activity have been the loss of some satellites, disrupted radio communication and localised blackouts.  One such blackout was on March 13, 1989 when Quebec in Canada experienced had a nine hour blackout.  Then, depending on the earth and sun's magnetic configuration at the time, we may see an aurora.  So, even if a CME reaches us, we are protected by our magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere from serious harm.


WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT SOLAR FLARES?

There is nothing we can do about solar flares.  All we can do is take photos of them.  Solar flares are totally out of our control.  The moon and the sun affect our climate but they remain out of our control.  Our energy is best spent finding responsible ways to look after earth, here and now.  If the day came when the earth was fatally wounded by a solar flare, you would have bigger things to worry about.  Why?  Because when you die (and you will die no matter whether the earth is here for another gadzillion years of not) you will at that moment find out whether what you believed about life after death is true or not.  

 

Let's move on  from solar flares...

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE  STARS OUT THERE BIGGER THAN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM!!!

The image below is of our sun.  But it's not that big, really!

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FOUR STARS:

1. The Sun: It is 93 million miles away yet it only takes light 8 minutes to get to the earth from the sun.  It is one million times the size of Earth. If the earth were the size of a golf ball, the sun would be 15 feet in diameter.  That's enough golf balls to fill up a school bus from floor to ceiling.

2. Betelegeuse: It is 427 light years from earth.  A light year is the distance light travels in 1 year going a the speed of 299,792 kilometers per second (186,287 miles per second). Betelegeuse is 750 times the size of our sun.  Image the solar flares IT will produce.  It is twice the size of the earth's orbit around the sun.  Woah!  Now get this... if the earth were the size of a golf ball, Betelgeuse would be the height of six Empire State Buildings staked on top of one another. 262 trillion earths can fit inside this star.  That's enough to fill up a superdome sport ground - 3,000 times!

3. Mu Cephei: It is 3,000 light years away. If the earth were the size of a golf ball, Mu Cephei would be the width of two Golden Gate Bridges from end to end. 2.7 quadrillion earths can fit inside of this star.  Solar flares are old news but many people don't know what you're reading now.  

How can you define quadrillion?

This is an important question before to consider before we go to our next star.  So think about this...

1 million seconds ago = 12 days ago. 

1 billion seconds ago = 1975. 

1 trillion seconds ago = 29,700 B.C. 

1 quadrillion seconds ago = 30,800,000 years ago

4. Canus Majorus (the Big Dog star): It is 5,000 light years from earth.  If the earth were a golf ball, Canus Majorus would be the height of Mount Everest. SEVEN quadrillion earths can fit inside of this star. That number would cover the state of Texas 22 inches deep in golf balls.  You need to start thinking past solar flares and begin thinking about where all these suns that produce solar flares come from.  

One Day

One day, after you die, you're going to meet the amazing and hugely awesome and powerful God who made all this stuff.  And we're just talking about a few suns here.  We haven't even begun to consider galaxies.  Ever wonder if you'd be good enough to go to heaven if judged by such a powerful holy God. 

CLICK HERE do a short test and find out now.  Don't wait till after you die.

 

 

WHERE YOU LIVE

Our sun with all its solar flares, is in the middle of our solar system.  The tip of the yellow arrow in the image to the left points to the general area of our solar system.   And earth is just a medium sized planet in that solar system.  Our solar system is one of many solar systems in the Galaxy you see to the left called the "Milky Way".  It's OUR galaxy!  Through pictures taken from the Hubble telescope is has been estimated that there are about 400 billion stars in our galaxy.  That's just one galaxy folks!  And that's just from what we can see from one telescope!!!

The Hubble telescope has allowed scientists to estimate that there are about 130 billion galaxies.  That's galaxies, not stars.  Our sun is a star.  Can you see how small you are.  And here's the really mind blowing news.  Every time they build a bigger telescope, they find more galaxies!  What do you make of all that except that you are very small indeed.  With the recent focus on solar flares, lets not forget the bigger picture and what we are a part of.  Some would want to say that this increases the possibility that there is other life out there.  Yep, there is.  He's the one who made all this. 

Why would God make all this if he was only going to put life on one small planet revolving around a reasonably small sun?  It seems a bit of a waste doesn't it.  Not really.  Here's the answer from God's Word as to why all this vast universe that boggles our tiny minds: 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."  (Psalm 19:1). 

So when you look up at the sky and are reminded how small you are, remember that, at the end of the day, you are still faced with the reality that you are going to die.  You need to get ready for that day. 

CLICK HERE to start now.