[Epic 4G General] machx0r:
Only misinformed doomsday theorists are "predicting" the size of solar flares/activity. NASA/NOAA is very clear that they cannot predict solar activity. To solar cycle does average 11 years with increased activity in the middle. Geomagnetic storms impact the ionosphere which low frequency, long range, radio signals bounce off of. Short of losing power to cell phone towers cell phone communications (high frequency, short range [ie: line of sight]) will not be impacted.

Here's some quotes from another new article, wikipedia and my own knowledge and reference material from being a license HAM radio operator...

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"Since Sunday, the sun has launched a barrage of flares, particle radiation and blobs of plasma that have disrupted some radio communications and forced airlines to reroute northern flights. Scientists expected the solar storm — the most intense since 2006 — to intensify Thursday morning as the latest blast pushes past Earth."

"The resulting geomagnetic storm rated a moderate “2” on NOAA’s five-point scale."

"After a years-long quiet period, solar activity is ramping up and is expected to peak in May 2013. For reasons unknown, solar activity cycles every 11 to 12 years."

"Intense solar activity can damage transformers and other power grid equipment. In 1989, a strong solar storm destroyed a transformer in Quebec and left 6 million people without power for nine hours." (There have also been larger flares/storms since then with no power outages or problems [ie: Nov 4, 2003 when the largest ever recorded flare occurred and a long range radio blackout did happen for the day])

*** Above was from news articles, below is from my existing knowledge and wikipedia :-) ***

Both radio and GPS are impacted by solar storms because the radiation/magnetic field associated with a solar storm impact the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a layer of the atmosphere that low frequency radio waves reflect off of for long distances. Commercial radio/TV is generally not impacted by solar storms because they are high frequency and short range.

So in short it is a good idea that planes take caution during solar storms because their radio and navigation systems could be impacted which may lead to a navigation problem resulting in a crash (but there is no chance the plane would just stop working and fall out of the sky). Power systems can also potentially be impacted but it's unlikely and there are safety precautions that are meant to prevent chain reaction failures.

Definitely an interesting storm but nothing to be scared of :-) Everyone is free to be paranoid of whatever they want but I wish it was against the law to spread FUD (then again where would "news" organizations be without FUD ;))

References:

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...h/2012/03/07/gIQAjodsxR_story.html?tid=pm_pop

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_cycles

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle

- The ARRL Antenna Book

---------- Post added at 10:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------

Another reason they don't always affect us is it they occur on a side of the sun that is not facing the earth.