Solar flares are always occurring on the surface of the sun, however occasionally the sun releases flares that are so intense they disrupt radio communications.  According to the National Geographic, solar storms produce extra electrical currents in our magnetosphere.  This is the region around Earth that controls the magnetic field, and when altered there are changes in the way our power systems run.  Solar flares have an impact on electrical utilities and grid operators, as the currents can enter the transmission lines and cause transformers to overheat or burn out.  As far as appliances are concerned, devices that utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) technology will lose signal due to a solar flare, including cell phones, airplanes, and car navigation systems.  

We are at the peak of the sun's 11-year cycle and this past Thursday a huge solar flare was released, scientifically called a coronal mass ejection.  According to John Bogdan, the director of the national Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, the amount of these flares will increase over the next three to five years.  Solar flares are measured on a scale of one to five and this flare is estimated to be around a two or three.  The solar cycle reaches it's peak in 2013, so bigger and more intense flares are in the near future.  To help prevent a solar flare from ruining your trip, it is important to have a back up plan to your GPS.  While they are helpful in many occasions, during a solar flare they will be useless and using a map will provide the best travel route.

To read the full article please visit the following link: 
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-05/tech/solar.flare.gps_1_solar-flares-coronal-mass-ejection-solar-cycle?_s=PM:TECH

Also, if you are interested in following the solar activity, the following website provides a variety of solar information: 
spaceweather.com

Don't forget your maps!  

Eliza Jones-Summer Intern