Solar flares to disrupt GPS for several hours in 2011 or 2012

Ok GPS fans, we're prepping you early for what could be a moment of pretty severe inconvenience in the not so distant future. Brace yourself, because in roughly five to six years, your beloved handheld devices won't work for several hours due to solar flare activity (sound familiar?). According to new Cornell University research, solar flares negatively affect GPS devices, based on observations of stellar phenomena in September of last year. In 2011 or 2012, when the sun reaches its next solar maximum, scientists expect it to cause a 90 percent GPS signal drop for several hours. While most of us will walk around, oblivious to these space fireworks, Alessandro Cerruti (pictured on the left), a Cornell graduate student who studies solar flare effects, envisions this horrific day as a "nightmare situation," given that all planes will likely have GPS signaling by that time. However, given these harbingers of doom, Dr. Paul Kinter (pictured on the right), Cerruti's advisor, has a brilliant solution: "I think the best remedy is to be aware of the problem and operate GPS systems with the knowledge that they may fail during a solar flare." See, it's just that easy, people.

[zoara @ Sep 28th 2006 10:04AM]

Walrus; what the hell?

[Dimitri @ Sep 28th 2006 1:33AM]

"...pictured on the left..."

Um, your left or our left?

[frank montenegro @ Sep 28th 2006 1:40AM]

uhm.... didnt the aztecs predict the end of the world around this time? something about all technology going haywire or something like that?

[KrakaHead @ Jul 14th 2007 3:09PM]

Frank Montenegro is a dickhead, he likes to drink the semen of the aztec gods, or the mexican daylaborers he picks up at home depot, all the same to him actually

[Sy @ Sep 28th 2006 1:42AM]

Would we even be using current GPS technology in 2011/2012?

[daniel @ Sep 28th 2006 2:37AM]

the first american GPS satellite was launched in 1978, so chances are we'll still be stuck with them in 2011. the satellites to be launched in the european Galileo project is, though more advanced, still using the same kind of signalling techniques.

[Andrew @ Sep 28th 2006 2:09AM]

What the hell is solar maximum? The real root of Hollywood actors' and ex-politicians' pet causes for the environment?

This wasn't mentioned as a possible source of rising temperatures in Al Gore's lecture, therefore, it couldn't possibly be real.

Anybody else wanna take a crack at spinning solar flares into a political issue?

[Deluxe @ Sep 28th 2006 2:22AM]

"Anybody else wanna take a crack at spinning solar flares into a political issue?". I think you're on enough crack for all of us.

[John Doe @ Sep 28th 2006 10:43AM]

Moron. And I really mean it. You obviously have NO clue what you are talking about. Like 90% of the idiots who spout the same crap.

[nhak @ Sep 28th 2006 6:58AM]

"the satellites to be launched in the european Galileo project is, though more advanced, still using the same kind of signalling techniques."

And ground stations to improve accuracy, i doubt the Gallileo relies only on Sattelites to remain operational.

"The encrypted Commercial Service (CS) will be available for a fee and will offer an accuracy of better than 1 m. The CS can also be complemented by ground stations to bring the accuracy down to less than 10 cm. This signal will be broadcast in three frequency bands, the two used for the OS signals, as well as at 1260�1300 MHz."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_positioning_system

[Simon @ Sep 28th 2006 3:12AM]

Shortsighted as specialists usualy are they forgot to mention that it won't just affect GSP signals.

Anyway, Frank is right, and it wasn't only the Aztecs either. Quite a few "ancients" around the globe prophesied "something big" to happen in 2012.

And though that's nothing for a tech blog, I think they might have been right. The way everything is speeding up we might have more than an enviromental climax by that time.

[thebigmagu @ Sep 28th 2006 3:14AM]

A GPS satellite is a GPS satellite all they do is transmit a signal. Its GPS devices that use that signal to triangulate its position that are being improved all the time.

[Tom @ Sep 28th 2006 3:43AM]

I predict GPS Sattelites will become so powerful that by the year 2739 they will get their revenge and blow up the Sun. We have to save Social Security!

[Sean D. @ Sep 28th 2006 4:15AM]

Bah, scientists... The ancient Mayans not only predicted a GPS disruption in 2012, they predicted the end of linear time! Mark your calendars for 21 December 2012... 11:11am, the exact time and date of the winter solstace.

[kbsig106 @ Sep 28th 2006 6:55AM]

I'll make a note in my outlook not to take any flights 2011 or 2012...


Geez, find something better to spend your research dollars on. Like a solar flare proof GPS - hey you got 5 to 6 years, so get movin'.

It's like those goverment studies that draw a DUH. For instance: Childern who eat more and exercise less are MORE likely to become fat says goverment study... DUH

[Parker @ Sep 28th 2006 8:08AM]

I think things like this were what the Unabomber was trying to warn about in that catchy work of his..."Industrial Society And Its Future," better known as his "Manifesto." But, that work is, of course, sullied by his selection of bombing people rather than just being another webmaster/"harbingers of doom." That whole "maniacal bomb builder and murder" thing tends to detract from one's credibility.

[Chris @ Sep 28th 2006 9:40AM]

I can't afford a GPS so I don't have to worry about this. I generally try to navigate with a topo map, ruller and stop watch. Yeah it may not work for geocaching but it's great for finding the ocean.

[TVGenius @ Sep 28th 2006 10:12AM]

Better not interfere with my geocaching...

[JamesB @ Sep 28th 2006 10:17AM]

"given that all planes will likely have GPS signaling by that time"

No, this kind of thing is why planes will NOT exclusively rely on GPS.

[Steve Packard @ Sep 28th 2006 11:25AM]

I doubt it will be a huge deal if it goes down for a few hours from time to time. Anyone who has a GPS knows that there are times when you cannot get a good signal (often because there is something in the way or whatnot). Any critical application (aircraft, large ships) will have redundant systems, such as inertial navigation and ground based radio directionfinding.

Also, ground-based GPS stations (which are already being activated) will not be affected and if more powerful satellites are launched in the next few years (also planned) they are likely to be less prone to such interfearance.

So your Tomtom may be down a bit, but I wouldn't panic. Try a map, maybe?

[Kitsune @ Sep 28th 2006 11:57AM]

Why do all people believe that when an airplane loses GPS, they crash. You can cover up all the instruments in the cockpit and turn off the autopilot and it still is going to go in a straight line!

[joe @ Sep 28th 2006 12:00PM]

what about WAAS?

[someguy @ Sep 28th 2006 12:05PM]

This is why I HATE the Sun. Worst, thing, ever.

[macona @ Sep 28th 2006 12:42PM]

I believe in shipping you have to have more then one form of navigation. Meaning you cannot just have GPS, you need a backup system. I am sure Airlines have similar rules wether it be inertial guidance or telemetery from airports.

[Dennis @ Sep 28th 2006 7:20PM]

Pffft! IDIOTS! There's no problem if you use an instrument that works as well, if not better, during a solar maximum. Why, of course, I'm referring to a sextant!

[x23 @ Sep 28th 2006 8:59PM]

"2011/2012"


and 12/21/2012 11:11am... they all use just 0, 1, & 2!!! OMG!!!

[anne-marie @ Nov 18th 2007 5:31AM]

No problem, just take a map that day. Remember those paper things?