Huge solar flare could disrupt communications networks

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A massive solar flare that erupted on Oct. 29 could interfere with communications networks on Earth the following day, according to the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

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Gases from the flare are expected to reach Earth sometime around the late afternoon or evening of Oct. 30. The NICT warns that it could potentially disrupt wireless communications networks and global positioning systems.

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The institute said it observed the eruption of an X-class solar flare–the most intense on the scale, which goes up to 5–shortly past midnight on Oct. 28, when sunspots, where solar flare explosions occur, were facing Earth.

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When gases discharged from the sun come into contact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can interfere with shortwave communications used to contact aircraft.

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People do not need to worry about the solar flare affecting their daily lives, however, according to NICT official Yuki Kubo.

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Active aurora appeared in Antarctica after gases from solar flares in September 2017 reached Earth. Similar aurora could be observed in polar regions following the latest solar flare, but they will not likely be visible in Japan, said Kubo.

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