The sun's activity isn't usually a hot topic around these parts, but when it threatens to derail satellite navigation services around the world, it must surely take center stage. UK researchers have corroborated
Cornell's 2006 warning that our solar system's main life-giver is about to wake up and head toward a new solar maximum -- a period of elevated surface activity and radiation. It is precisely that radiation, which can be perceived in the form of solar flares, that worries people with respect to GPS signaling, as its effects on the Earth's ionosphere are likely to cause delays in data transmission from satellites to receivers and thereby result in triangulation errors. Still, it's more likely to be "troublesome than dangerous," but inaccuracies of around 10 meters and signal blackouts that could last for hours are being forecast in the absence of any intervening steps being taken. So yes, you now have
another reason not to trust your GPS
too much.
[Thanks, Mike]
posted February 10th 2010 6:02AM
Too bad GPS uses trilateration and not triangulation, like the article says.
that is it! i am taking the first vigin galactic flight to pandora.
meh , ancient people knew that gps wont work all the time , that's why they used stars to navigate , nexus two with star-based navigation system anyone ? (now that i'm thinking about it , didn't google include the stars in the google earth software ?....)
One person's nuisance is another's aurora borealis.
Good thing we just shut down LORAN.
Explains why SDO is going up this week. Should at least have some impressive photography to go with the cataclysmic fall of civilization.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/news/sdo_data.html
Nic Cage was really awesome in this movie, but the ending didn't make any sense.
I hope this doesn't warm up the earth because I would hate to have to destroy the sun.
nice picture it look like real =)
mantolama
@aky17tr - fortrue!
So gonna make that Pic my phone wallpaper ;^/...
@aky17tr - Fortrue!
SO gonna make that Pic my phone wallpaper!
Yikes ;^(...
Newton Crosby: Can you triangulate YOUR position, Howard?
Howard Marner: No. Newton Crosby: Well, then - there you go!"
Silly Governments, Thats Not A Solar Flare! Thats Just Goku Powering Up!!!
Title should have been: "Solar flares set to wreak havoc on GPS signals, Clark Kent."
Solar flares are going to affect GPS systems? Wow, looks like those who rely on them will have to break down and learn to use a map and compass. Over the past year, I've stopped three drivers in our local community (I'm a Deputy Sheriff) for driving the wrong way on a one way street (we only have two) because they were following their in-dash or dash-mounted GPS systems to the letter. Can you spell S-T-U-P-I-D. Such are those who are relying on technology over common-sense, just for the sake of having the latest gadget. I hope the solar flares hit with a vengeance and take this techno-world back to the stone age.