A powerful solar flare erupted from a giant unstable sunspot last night, causing radio blackouts on Earth and sending a plasma plume hurtling through the sun’s atmosphere at incredible speeds. The eruption, which occurred in the sunspot region AR3575, began on Monday, February 5th, at 8:30 p.m. EST and reached its peak at 10:15 EST. Solar physicist Keith Strong provided details about the eruption, stating that it released a coronal mass ejection (CME), a large release of plasma and magnetic field from the sun.
While CMEs have the potential to cause disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field, resulting in geomagnetic storms, this particular CME is unlikely to strike Earth due to the location of the eruption being far south on the sun. However, it could pass beneath us without causing any significant impact. Geomagnetic storms can be troublesome for Earth-orbiting satellites but are a delight for aurora chasers who eagerly await dramatic displays.
The solar flare also caused extensive radio blackouts due to the strong pulse of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation that were emitted towards Earth. Traveling at the speed of light, the radiation reached our planet in just over eight minutes and ionized the upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere, known as the thermosphere. This ionization triggered shortwave radio blackouts on the sun-lit portion of Earth at the time. Australia and Southeast Asia experienced these blackouts, and Ham radio operators and mariners in the area may have noticed a loss of signal at frequencies below 30 MHz for up to an hour after the flare’s peak.
Solar flares occur when magnetic energy builds up in the solar atmosphere and is released in an intense burst of electromagnetic radiation. They are categorized into different groups based on their size, with X-class flares being the most powerful. The recent flare was classified as an M4.2 flare, which is 10 times smaller than an X-class flare. Flares are further classified within each group based on their relative strength, with numbers from 1 to 10 denoting their intensity.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured stunning images and video of the solar flare. This space-based telescope continuously monitors the sun in various wavelengths, providing valuable data on solar activity.
Interestingly, more solar activity may be on the horizon as another unstable sunspot region, AR3576, comes into view. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has suggested an elevated probability of M-class and possibly X-class flare activity over the next few days. As region 3576 rotates into view, region 3575 will begin to disappear beyond the western limb around February 7th or 8th.
While solar flares and CMEs can have significant impacts on Earth, it seems that this recent event will not cause any major disruptions. However, scientists and enthusiasts alike are eagerly awaiting further solar activity as region 3576 becomes visible. The sun’s dynamic nature continues to captivate us, reminding us of the immense power and beauty of our nearest star.
