According to scientists, the biggest solar storm in recent history could occur in 2012.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html Some scientists predict that the 2012 solar storms could disrupt communications on Earth during the 2012 London Olympics. The warning comes from British scientists involved in NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory project (SDO), which began monitoring the sun's atmosphere after it is launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral on February 9, 2010.http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/about.php

A major solar storm could emit enough radiation to disrupt satellites which would interrupt GPS and any satellite reliant technology on Earth.http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/02/27/solar-storms-could-be-earths-next-katrina/

In March 2009, the National Center for Atmospheric Research warned that the sun, which has 11-year sunspot cycles, was nearing a "Solar Maximum." This event was predicted to occur around 2011. The upcoming Solar Max is expected to be 30% to 50% stronger that the last, which was in 1958.http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/10mar_stormwarning.htm

According to a February 2010 story featured on NPR radio, a massive solar storm, like the one predicted for 2012, could potentially effect electricity, running water, radio signals and communications. Experts from the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder Colorado (which is affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) say that such a storm could cause great disruption and have a major impact here on earth. The report likened a major solar storm to a 'solar Katrina.'http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124125001

In a worst case scenario, the 'solar Katrina' would knock out power around the world, leaving people without air conditioning, electricity, home heating or phone/computer service. Hospitals would be forced to rely on generators and of course, gas pumps wouldn't work, nor would credit card transactions for obvious reasons.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124125001

The NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft includes equipment that will help scientists develop an understanding of the sun's atmosphere and its affects on Earth.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/7140761/Solar-storms-could-ruin-coverage-of-the-2012-Olympics.htmlhttp://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/about.php

The SDO, which will study the 11-year cycles of the sun's magnetic energy, could potentially help to predict sun flares and magnetic storms that could disrupt radio transmissions, energy grids, GPS technology and related technologies.http://www.tgdaily.com/general-sciences-features/48255-probe-will-warn-of-solar-storms