The document explores the potential role of space weather in the Titanic disaster, proposing that a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm influenced navigation, communication, and possibly the collision itself. The storm, indicated by visible auroras, may have caused compass errors and disrupted wireless transmissions, contributing to the miscalculation of the Titanic’s SOS position. Ironically, these effects might have aided Carpathia in locating survivors. Historical accounts and scientific evidence, such as magnetometer readings and solar activity data, support the presence of the storm. While uncertainties remain, the study highlights the storm’s complex impacts on the tragedy, including navigation errors, failed communications, and the rescue effort.
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Citation:
Mila Zinkova (2019) A possible role of space weather in the events surrounding the Titanic disaster, Weather, Vol. 75, No. 11
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Acknowledgements
This article investigates how space weather may have affected the navigation and communication of the Titanic in the run-up to the disaster and the subsequent rescue operation. The significant space weather event was in the form of a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm that observational evidence suggests was in effect in the North Atlantic at the time of the tragedy.