NASA reports that a massive X-class solar flare strikes Earth, causing a radio blackout throughout the United States.
As we near the solar maximum, anticipated to happen in 2025, the Sun has been displaying its immense power for the past few months. The solar maximum refers to the peak period of solar activity within the Sun’s 11-year cycle. During this time, the Sun’s magnetic field undergoes changes that lead to increased solar activity, including sunspots, CMEs, eruptions, and more. Recently, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observed the most powerful solar flare of solar cycle 25, highlighting the effects of this escalating solar activity. Learn more about this significant event.
Sunrise recorded
According to NOAA, the intensity of the solar flare radiating from the Sun’s surface was X2.8. It came from the active solar region 2514 and hit Earth on December 14. It is being called one of the most powerful solar flares of all time. strongest since September 10, 2017, when the X8.2 label was observed in GOES-15. But why is it dangerous? For the uninitiated, X-class solar flares are the most powerful, which can lead to long radiation storms.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured the flare, which includes a full suite of instruments for observing the sun, and has been doing so since 2010. It uses three very important instruments to collect data on various solar activities. The solar flare not only hit Earth, but ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere and caused shortwave radio interference throughout the United States.
The NOAA report states that “an X2.8 flare (R3) occurred from area 3514; located in the far northwest region of the Sun. This is likely one of the largest solar radio events ever recorded. Several NWS Center Weather Service Units (CWSU) located at FAA facilities reported of radio communications interference with aircraft.These effects were felt from one end of the nation to the other.SWPC is also analyzing a possible ground-directed Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) associated with this flare.
Class X solar flares: are they dangerous?
X-class solar flares can cause radiation storms that can not only damage satellites, but also give small doses of radiation to people flying in airplanes at the time! Additionally, these destructive flares can disrupt global communications and bring down power grids, causing blackouts.
If the X-class flares are too strong, they can lead Earth into loops 10 times larger, which jump off the Sun’s surface when the magnetic fields are crossed, according to NASA. When these loops recombine, they can produce as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs!
