Solar storms, which are expected to get worse over the next five
years, could threaten China's national defense and communications
satellite systems, said the National Satellite Meteorological
Center (NSMC) on Tuesday.
Solar storms on the surface of the sun create solar winds in
space that slam the earth's atmosphere, disrupting its
magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere.
These atmospheric disruptions can affect the country's aerospace
program, including its satellite systems that provide
communications, defense monitoring, navigation and global
positioning, said sources with the NSMC which falls under the China
Meteorological Administration.
Solar activity will enter a new upward phase this summer. It
will be at a low ebb in May and after passing this stage, will
increase gradually and reach the cycle's peak in 2012, according to
the center.
The sun's cycles last 11 years and the one beginning this summer
will be the 24th since the first solar cycle was recorded in 1755,
said the sources.
Experts suggest the sun's activities and the space weather they
create should be constantly monitored and forecasts provided to
organizations and firms involved in aerospace so they can put
emergency plans in place if disruptions occur.
(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2007)