If you're having trouble getting a GPS signal this week, it could be due to solar storms.
There were three large explosions from the sun occurring over the past few days. The magnetic storms that these explosions cause can significantly disrupt power grids, satellite signals, and telephone communications.
In 1989, a solar storm caused the entire city of Quebec, Canada to lose power for several hours. The recent solar activity is not expected to cause disruptions of that magnitude, but starting next year and continuing into 2013, there will be a major increase in solar storms that could cause up to $2 trillion in damages.
The last time the planet saw a similar activity was in 1859, so there is no modern precedent to guess what the potential impact might be on a modern industrial society.
Read the full article from Reuters to find out more about the recent solar activity and the impact it could have on GPS users.
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