A composite image made by GOES-16 extreme ultraviolet (EUV) telescope, the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI).Observations of solar EUV emission aids in the early detection of solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and other phenomena that impact the geospace environment. [Courtesy: NOAA]
Key Takeaways:
Geomagnetic storms are causing widespread satellite disruptions this weekend, potentially impacting GPS navigation and high-frequency radio transmissions for pilots.
The FAA has warned pilots to plan for possible disruptions, while NOAA issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch, calling it an "unusual and potentially historic event."
These coronal mass ejections from the sun can also affect broader infrastructure like communications and the electric power grid, and may result in aurora displays visible far south.
Pilots who rely on GPS, also known as “the magenta line,” for navigation may have a difficult time getting around this weekend as geomagnetic disruptions in the Earth’s atmosphere may create “satellite disruptions” that could impact GPS navigation among other things.
The prediction prompted a warning for pilots from the FAA.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
