Northern Lights May Increasingly Interfere With GPS
GPS units are not infallible.
Stories abound of users blindly following poor GPS directions (based on improperly developed maps) onto train tracks, off marked roads, and even into a nasty part of town.
Now, there's a brand new problem: interference from the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, the natural lightshow seen near the Earth's poles when high-speed particles from the Sun hit the atmosphere. The natural light show distorts the signals from Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) that are 12,600 miles overhead. With increasing solar activity expected in the coming years, the bright lights could foul up navigation devices at an increasing rate.
The last peak of solar activity came in 2000, which is before portable navigation devices were popular, so users haven't experienced this kind of interference to date. The next peak is expected in 2012, with increasing activity each year until then.
According to a report in the American Geophysical Union's 'International Journal of Space Weather' (their Summer Fun issue is a must-read), tests conducted in Norway during Northern Light activity showed GPS units were not able to precisely identify the roads the researchers were on. Sometimes the units lost their signal entirely.
The global positioning satellites hover in fixed positions 12,600 miles above sea level. For the portable navigation units that people use in their cars, boats and planes to work, they must be able to receive unimpeded signals from these satellites. When the Northern Lights are in play, the Earth's ionosphere gets "lumpy," rendering the signals inaccurate.
Navigation device makers say this won't cause a dangerous situation for drivers as long as they use common sense while behind the wheel. So, mainly, the same common sense that (we hope) will keep you from driving off the road into a river, either. [Source: Telegraph.co.uk.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bryce said 5:25PM on 6-23-2008
This is like saying: "Shaking seismograph needles pose danger to tall buildings" or: "large waves bring heavy rains". The aurora borealis is the *effect*, not the *cause*. The solar activity is what causes the aurora, and is the same thing that is disrupting GPS signals; but the aurora itself doesn't have any effect on the signals.
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Walt Bates said 12:12AM on 6-24-2008
Whoever wrote that article didn't do his homework. Satellites that "hover" over a fixed point must be at the geosynchronous altitude which is just over 22,000 miles up, not 12,000 miles.
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Simzeee said 4:32AM on 6-24-2008
"Read between the lines". Maybe you'll get it.
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Tom Davis said 6:18AM on 6-24-2008
I wonder what kind of effect HAARP has on GPS systems?
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William Davis said 6:19AM on 6-24-2008
I wonder what kind of effect HAARP has on GPS systems?
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T.K said 8:26PM on 6-24-2008
Thank god I still use the old but trusty map.
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Pat De Range said 8:41PM on 6-24-2008
I got directions from Map Quest on AOL and the last part of it was wrong. My brother-in-law lives in that town and he couldn't figure out why the directions said to turn left insead of right? We almost ended up in the canals in Cape Coral.
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Denise Brock said 9:32PM on 6-24-2008
I won't use GPS again since it told me to take a left into my own DRIVEWAY when you are actually supposed to take right to get into it from the direction I was coming from.
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Jo said 9:42PM on 6-24-2008
I use the Trip Tix from AAA
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Deborah Knust said 9:54PM on 6-24-2008
I use a Garmin. It has never lead me a stray.
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bbreitag said 11:53PM on 6-24-2008
Yeah, just don't call for customer service
eft kdip; said 10:24PM on 6-24-2008
The FAA wants to get rid of ground based navigation and change everything to satellite based. Happy Flying!
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Schnickers said 10:41PM on 6-24-2008
it is probably from all the static caused by the electromagnetic pulses from all of the wireless signals being transmitted throughout the world for the purpose of using the internet. So again it is all Al Gore's fault! He invented the internet, he discovered Global Warming, and not he is to blame for everyone getting lost due to lost GPS signals.
I am moving to the rainforests of Bolivia.
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mike said 12:50AM on 6-25-2008
i have onstar in my vehicle it works very well
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lmst2duc said 12:58AM on 6-25-2008
I've been useing a Garmin Nuvi for a couple of years now in my travels. It is not a replacement for a good map. It is however a great supplement to one though. I don't like the main roads or freeways and has heped me to find new and wonderful places that I would not have found if I didn't have it. When I bought the Ducati I knew I would need a bridge of some sort to cross water. I've known for a long time that taking the train tracks might be a bad idea. If it told me I lived across the street from where i've been for 20 years. I'm sure I would recognize the lawn that needed to be mowed after being gone two weeks as mine and woundn't pull in the nieghbors driveway. It's been a fun and useful tool that adds to a good map not replace it.
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Bill said 1:14AM on 6-25-2008
Don't use GPS, for me MAP is better don't have to worry about the Northern Lights or satellites
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steelcr said 3:30AM on 6-25-2008
Been using my Garmin......for over 2 years. I LOVE IT...!!
It took me from California...........to the East Coast. Did a great job!! I DON'T get lost, now! It's one of BEST things.....I've ever purchased.
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Darren said 4:57AM on 6-25-2008
I used to use a GPS ......but after I landed a 747 on a beach I lost faith in them......lol.....they are not a replacement for a map but they are fun to listen to while driving...." turn left after your ex-girlfriend's house who screwed you for thousands of dollars,then go right onto the highway...."....that always cracks me up....lol
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Tom Elder said 10:01AM on 6-25-2008
Now what effect would it have on launching ICBMs. This would make an interesting topic in a novel or scene in a movie. Imagine a launch of a satellite that normally would have a polar orbit looping over the US getting sent flying over or into North Korea. Now Imagine the rocket can't be sent a signal.
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