When plasma bubbles up through the convection zone it can for a time be confined by the local magnetic fields on the Sun. The (internal) rotation and thus dynamo which powers the magnetic fields in the Sun is ultimately responsible for the solar outbursts. These cooler sunspot regions exist because, in certain areas on the Sun’s surface, it’s magnetic field inhibits the escape of heat from the interior, trapping the hot gas beneath the surface and producing the relatively cool sunspots. (A magnetic polarity flip between northern and southern sunspots means one complete cycle is actually 22 years.) Part of this activity is the enhanced prominence of sunspots: dark cool regions on the Sun that are a mere 3,000 C, compared to the average 6,000 C surface temperature.
Solar outbursts roughly follow an 11- year cycle of maximum and minimum activity, although the cycle time period has been known to vary from 8 to 15 years. These events are expected to peak around 2025 and it’s hoped the Solar Orbiter will observe them all as it aims to fly within 26 million miles of the sun.SOHO EIT 304 Angstrom image of a huge flare taken on Sept. The sun is currently at the start of a new 11-year solar cycle, which usually sees eruptions and flares grow more intense and extreme. Those natural light displays are examples of the Earth’s magnetosphere getting bombarded by solar wind, which creates the bright green and blue displays. Weaker solar flares are responsible for auroras like the northern lights. The Earth’s magnetic field helps to protect us from the more extreme consequences of solar flares. In 1989, a strong solar eruption shot so many electrically charged particles at Earth that the Canadian province of Quebec lost power for nine hours.Īs well as causing issues for our tech, they can cause harm to astronauts working on the International Space Station, either through radiation exposure or by interfering with mission control communications. In the past, larger solar flares have wreaked havoc on our planet. Thankfully, due to the flare’s intensity, any disruption it causes is likely to be temporary. “However - when intense enough - they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.” “Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground,” NASA said. They affect our planet’s magnetic field, which in turn can disrupt power grids and communications networks. Solar flares can have an impact on Earth. “Expect aurora to mid-latitudes, as well as GPS reception issues and amateur radio disruptions on Earth’s nightside!” Solar storms may cause issues for our tech on Earth. “NASA predictions confirm impact by early October 31.” Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist, said on Twitter: “A direct hit for Halloween! The solar storm launched during the X-flare today is indeed Earth-directed!” The flare is expected to hit Earth over the weekend, meaning it could land on Halloween.ĭr. NASA logged an X28 in 2003, though an X1 is still a significant eruption. Higher numbers designate more intense flares. In a blog post, NASA said the “significant” flare has been classified an X1.įlares are ranked by letter, with the biggest labeled as “X-class.” The smallest flares are “A-class.” The flare is the result of a coronal mass ejection - a huge expulsion of plasma from the sun’s outer layer, called the corona.
It has already caused a temporary, but strong, radio blackout in parts of South America, according to the US Space Weather Prediction Center. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which tracks the sun’s activity, captured an image of the event at 11:35 a.m. The volley of radiation may trigger the northern lights if it collides with our atmosphere, and could cause major issues for power grids, experts suggest. The sun launched a massive solar flare yesterday that’s headed in Earth’s direction - the strongest storm seen in the current weather cycle.
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