Solar bursts could threaten Global Positioning System

April 5, 2007 | Source: AP

The Global Positioning System may be threatened by powerful solar flares, a panel of scientists warned yesterday.

The cause for their concern, according to David L. Johnson, director of the 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. If that increasing level of activity produces more such radio bursts, the GPS system could be seriously affected, the researchers said.