Solar Storm Maximum 2012

Just wondering, when in 2012 does NASA expect the storms to vamp up? And what type of damage are they looking at. Supposedly, when the last one was around there were no cell phones or GPS so we won't notice anything electronically wrong. However, they were able to see the aurora down in Mexico the last time and they are saying this one will be stronger. Has NASA mentioned any electrical grids on the planet going out? Just curious, and if anyone has anything else to add please go ahead. BTW no conspiracy theorist please, only "real science."

Thanks in Advance.

OK, here's the real science. First of all, the solar maximum is a _statistical_ prediction, not a prediction of a specific event. We won't know when the maximum was until it is well past; we just know when it is most likely to occur. That isn't in 2012 at all, but in May 2013. This maximum is likely to be less intense than the last maximum, which was itself pretty mild, so NASA is NOT predicting a severe maximum. Only about once a century is there a solar event strong enough to cause any effect on Earth more serious than an aurora. The last two serious events were in 1859 and 1989, so another one isn't likely for another century or so. If a major event is on the way, we get about 36 hours warning, plenty long enough to shut down sensitive satellites and networks. So we are not anticipating any major effects in the next couple of years. A major event is always possible, but we now have systems in place to trigger warnings and take preventative measures. There is even a good chance that the next solar maximum may not occur at all.

The links below are what I based the above on.

Aaarghhhh... The last solar maximum was about 10 years ago (they happen every 11 years, approximately.

All that happens is that there are more sunspots and what we now know as coronal mass ejections which increase ionospheric activity, more and brighter aurora, and so on.