Scientists say solar storms threatening communications

US Space weather scientists have predicted that large sun explosion over the last few days could affect communications and global positioning system (GPS) satellites. Weather scientists in the US have warned the users of satellite, telecommunications and electric equipment, due to three explosions from the sun, to be ready for possible disruptions during the next few days.“The magnetic storm that is soon to develop probably will be in the moderate to strong level,” said Joseph Kunches, a space weather scientist at the Space Weather Prediction Center, a division of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Although solar activities rarely induce massive disruptions, they have had serious impacts in the past, scientists say.

The 1859 sun explosion has been recorded as the biggest solar storm so far, when communications systems were limited to telegraphs. The giant solar storm hit telegraph offices around the world and caused a massive aurora visible as far south as the Caribbean Islands.

The National Research Council had estimated that today’s storm, in a similar magnitude to the one in 1859, could cause about 2 trillion US dollars in damage globally, according to a 2008 report.

The NOAA Space Weather Scale is equipped to measure the intensity of the explosion from one as the lowest intensity to five standing for the highest, similar to the measurements applying for hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes to identify their severity.

The first of the three solar explosions erupted from the sun this week already passed the Earth on Thursday with light impact, while the second was passing the Earth now and seems to be stronger, Kunches said.

The third one could happen worse and aggravate the disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by the second (storm) or do nothing at all, he added.

Solar events reach their peak about every 12 years. The next peak, called a solar maximum, was expected in 2013, said the director of Space Weather Prediction Center Tom Bogdan.

“We’re coming up to the next solar maximum, so we expect to see more of these storms coming from the sun over the next three to five years,” he added.