According to experts, an intense solar flare will hit the earth’s magnetic field, shake the planet and cause an abrupt drop in electricity, internet, television and telephone networks for several days. The phenomenon, known as a geostorm or geomagnetic storm, will also affect navigation and aeronautics due to the alteration of compasses.

“A large event could potentially be very disruptive,” said Professor Pablo Moya, a scholar in the university’s College of Science Department of Physics, who specialized in space weather at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (POT).

Professor Moya is one of the authors of the research, together with Paula Reyes, a graduate of the Faculty of Sciences, and Víctor Pinto, a professor at that house of higher studies.

According to the study, satellites orbiting the earth could also be affected by this phenomenon.

According to the investigation, the last major event of these characteristics was recorded in 2003 in the northern hemisphere and caused an internet blackout for several days.

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