Will a massive solar storm reach Earth in 2021?
Market Rules
A solar storm, or more correctly, a solar flare, is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy from the Sun. It is associated with sunspots and it is our solar system’s largest explosive event. Solar storms can disrupt electric power grids and contribute to the corrosion of oil and gas pipelines, interfere with high-frequency radio communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, and communications can be compromised for commercial airliners on transpolar crossing routes.
According to a study published by the University of Denver a few years back, a major solar storm could happen near 2020, taking the Sun cycle into account. The last event we have registered for was in 1989, in Québec when the solar storm caused a major blackout that affected 6 million people for 9 hours.
If by December 31st, 2021, a solar storm reaches the Earth and causes notable damage (electric power, GPS, and/or radio disruption), this question will be resolved as "Yes". Futuur will solve this question based on the information from NASA's SPACE Weather Prediction Center (https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/).