From local newspaper:
GPS faces threat from solar flares, scientists warn
WASHINGTON ? The Global Positioning System, relied on for everything from navigating cars and airplanes to transferring money between banks, may be threatened by powerful solar flares, a panel of scientists warned yesterday. The cause for their concern, said David Johnson, director of the U.S. National Weather Service, was an unexpected solar radio burst on Dec. 6 that affected virtually every GPS receiver on the lighted half of Earth. Some receivers had a reduction in accuracy while others completely lost the ability to determine position, he said. Solar activity rises and falls in 11-year cycles, with the next peak expected in 2011.
GPS faces threat from solar flares, scientists warn
WASHINGTON ? The Global Positioning System, relied on for everything from navigating cars and airplanes to transferring money between banks, may be threatened by powerful solar flares, a panel of scientists warned yesterday. The cause for their concern, said David Johnson, director of the U.S. National Weather Service, was an unexpected solar radio burst on Dec. 6 that affected virtually every GPS receiver on the lighted half of Earth. Some receivers had a reduction in accuracy while others completely lost the ability to determine position, he said. Solar activity rises and falls in 11-year cycles, with the next peak expected in 2011.
