Researchers have found that solar storms can cause malfunctions in railway signals, leading them to switch from red to green and vice versa. This discovery was made possible through a study published in the journal “Space Weather”.
The Sun, being an active star, emits radiation into space, which can disrupt technology on Earth, including railway signals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space weather forecasting center has noted that solar storms can even cause power outages and blackouts.
In the current 11-year solar cycle, solar storms are occurring more frequently, posing problems for satellite operators. These storms can also have severe impacts on the UK railway system, causing signal disruptions.
Cameron Patterson, a physicist from the University of Lancaster and the lead author of the study, stated, “Our research demonstrates that space weather poses a serious, albeit relatively rare, risk to the railway signaling system. This can result in delays or even more critical consequences.”
The study also revealed that a powerful space event like the 1859 Carrington event could cause extensive issues with railway signals. Jim Wilde, co-author of the study, emphasized that a better understanding of the space weather threat could help mitigate risks. This includes the use of space weather forecasts to limit railway operations during extreme events.
Solar storms, known as Sunny Super Buries, can disable important electronics on Earth, such as GPS and railway signals. The previous study conducted by Patterson’s team showed that signal malfunctions can occur, turning green signals into red. These “right” malfunctions can cause significant delays in the railway network. However, the team’s new findings regarding the failure of the “wrong side” raise even greater concerns.
The team discovered that the electric field generated by a century-scale space weather event can produce a “significant number” of failures on the wrong side, depending on the number of trains in operation at that time.
You can stay updated on space weather at the NOAA Center for Forecasting Space Weather, which monitors solar phenomena and their potential impacts on Earth.
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