Solar storm largest in years

The largest emission of radiation by the sun in 15 years could disrupt mobile telephone communications as well as television and radio reception, scientists said today.

Large solar flares were unleashed when energy stored in magnetic fields above sunspots was suddenly released, said scientists at Britain's Royal Astronomical Society.
The effects of the solar flares have been seen at different points on Earth, including brilliant auroras over parts of Britain.

"Flares can affect shortwave communications and satellites in the Earth's orbit which could mean problems for phones, television and radio signals," said Peter Bond, spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society.

"The flares have caused a huge amount of geo-magnetic activity as the magnetic field takes a while to settle," he said.

It was the largest radiation storm since October 1989, according to experts

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