http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57364089-76/solar-flare-blasts-radiation-storm-toward-earth/ By Martin LaMonica Cutting Edge CNet News January 23, 2012 A fastball of high-energy matter from the Sun is blasting toward the Earth and is expected to cause the largest solar radiation storm since 2005. Late last night, a solar flare caused a coronal mass ejection, or the release of a burst of charged particles, from the sun's atmosphere, and it's heading toward the Earth at 1,400 miles per second, according to NASA. The concern is that a magnetic storm from the solar flare could affect GPS systems and some communications systems, especially in higher altitudes in the north. NASA estimates that the storm could reach the Earth's magnetic field as early as tomorrow morning Eastern Time. "With the radiation storm in progress now, satellite operators could be experiencing trouble, and there are probably impacts as well to high frequency [radio] communications in polar regions," Doug Biesecker, a physicist at the Space Weather Prediction Center, told the Washington Post [...] _____________________________________________________ Did a friend send you this article? Make it your New Year's Resolution to subscribe to InfoSec News! http://www.infosecnews.org/mailman/listinfo/isnReceived on Tue Jan 24 2012 - 01:03:03 PST
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