Create a solar storm warning system

UK scientists have created a solar storm warning system to protect navigation and communication systems.

The system was created by researchers at the British Antarctic Survey. Researchers in six European countries use satellite data and ground data on the Earth's magnetic field to predict changes in emissions. This allows them to warn satellite operators of dangerous emissions to move the equipment away from the path of the radiation stream.

GPS satellites are particularly susceptible to the effects of radiation spikes as they orbiting the Earth, passing through the Van Allen belt - the magnetic stripe that surrounds the earth and is always a source of irritating radiation to satellites. The sun's 11-year cycle will culminate in 2012-13, so forecasting is important.

Although the solar storms take more than a day to reach the Earth, the warning system will only be able to alert satellites operators within hours of data provided by NASA satellites. Located at an altitude of 1.3 million km above the ground.

The price of the warning system was $ 3.39 million, less than the damage that each solar storm caused to each satellite. If a solar storm like the one that happened in 1859 was repeated, it would have cost $ 30 billion for the satellite system alone.

Previously, in 2003, a solar storm caused 47 satellites to cripple, causing a loss of $ 640 million.