Sailors need to keep a weather eye on their SatNav systems today as three eruptions from the Sun reach the Earth. Waves of charged solar particles are the result of three solar flares directed at Earth the most powerful since 2006.

Flares can disrupt technology, including power grids, communications systems and satellites.

Solar flares are caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun’s atmosphere.

Chinese state media has already reported some disruption to shortwave radio communications in the south of the country.

Researchers say the Sun has been awakening after a period of several years of low activity.