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Northern Lights affect satnav systems

27/06/08

Drivers who have been lost while using their satellite navigation systems can attribute some of the blame to a natural occurrence, according to new research.

A study conducted at the University of Bath has highlighted that the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, interfere with the signals from global positioning satellites which are used by satnavs to pinpoint their location, reports the Telegraph.

The researchers claimed that intense electrical activity created in the atmosphere by the Northern Lights decreases the accuracy of the system, telling drivers that they are on a road they are not actually not, which could lead to accidents and increase car insurance premiums for the vehicle user.

"Although most people in the UK can't see the aurora when they are happening because of cloud or ambient light, they can still affect the GPS signal," lead researcher Professor Cathryn Mitchell commented to the news paper.

However, the publication added that satnav manufacturers have insisted vehicle users are not in any danger due to the occurrence.

The Northern Lights are a natural coloured light display which forms above polar areas of the northern hemisphere and occur mostly from September to October and March to April annually.

In related news, it was previously reported that satnav systems make road users feel at ease behind the wheel.

Some 72 per cent of respondents to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute survey revealed they feel less stressed when using such devices as they can concentrate more on the road, with 60 per cent saying it makes them feel safer.

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