international Internet links could

South Africans should brace themselves for intermittent communication problems over the next few days as more solar flares hit the planet. This morning, the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory picked up a flare, with more expected over the next few days, until the 11-year cycle hits its peak in the middle of next year. Solar flares can temporarily alter the upper atmosphere, which creates disruptions to signal transmission from, for example, a GPS satellite to Earth, causing it to be off by many metres, explains the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “Another phenomenon produced by the sun could be even more disruptive. Known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), these solar explosions propel bursts of particles and electromagnetic fluctuations into Earth's atmosphere. “Those fluctuations could induce electric fluctuations at ground level that could blow out transformers in power grids. The CME's particles can also collide with crucial electronics onboard a satellite and disrupt its systems,” says the US agency. National Aeronautics and Space Administration said on Wednesday that a CME reached earth, causing a minor geomagnetic storm.

Up and down

“In an increasingly technological world, where almost everyone relies on cell phones and GPS controls not just your in-car map system, but also airplane navigation and the extremely accurate clocks that govern financial transactions, space weather is a serious matter,” says National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Dr Pierre Cilliers, a research physicist with the Space Science Directorate of the South African National Space Agency, says there has been GPS and cell phone instability recently, which will continue as more flares are expected over the next few days. Cilliers says a range of technology is affected by space weather, although the degree differs depending on the intensity. He says flares are expected to increase in frequency. Cilliers explains that the sun is entering its active phase and is emitting bursts that cover the entire spectrum of radio waves, microwave, x-rays, gamma rays, as well as UV. These bursts reach the earth about eight minutes after leaving the sun, he says. In addition, satellites would be affected by proton storms, which take about four hours to reach the dishes after leaving the sun, says Cilliers. He adds that an ion cloud, if it reaches the earth, would affect communication to airplanes. Every time there is a solar flare, noise levels across all communication systems increases, notes Cilliers. He explains that cell phone handsets do not have enough power to override the noise and this leads to dropped calls. Both Vodacom and Cell C say they have not had any issues on the network as a result of the flares. Cilliers explains that base stations have enough power to override the noise. While communication will not come to a grinding halt, there will be intermittent disruptions, says Cilliers. He explains satellites may need to be put into safe mode or reset, and international Internet links could go up and down.