Massive Solar Flare Explosion Triggers Blackouts
Do you know the incredible moment when a massive solar flare capable of knocking out power explodes from the sun? Recently, a powerful solar flare triggered a wave of radio blackouts across South America, Africa, and the Southern Atlantic. Researchers have classified this solar phenomenon as an X3.3 flare, considered among the strongest types. Read on to discover more about these fascinating solar flares, their classifications, and potential impacts.
The Phenomenon
The NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun, released footage showing a bright light on the lower right side. Researchers spotted this solar phenomenon at 8.10 am, and it was classified as an X3.3 flare. X-class solar flares are the most intense, capable of causing monstrous bursts of radiation.
Solar Flare Causes
The solar flare was caused by an eruption of electromagnetic radiation in the sun’s atmosphere. This occurs when accelerated charged particles collide with the plasma medium. While solar flares cannot travel far enough to hurt humans on Earth, they can cause blackouts and other electricity-related disruptions. For instance, this blast could affect frequencies used in spacecraft, weather stations, and radio services.
Impact and Previous Events
The solar flare erupted from sunspot AR3576, the same one that caused a massive blast just days ago. The sun’s fury resulted in blackouts in Australia and South Asia when an explosion released a massive plume on Tuesday. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center reported more communication disruptions in the coming days.
Classifying Solar Flares
Astronomers classify solar flares by their X-ray energy using four different letters: B, C, M, and X. X-class solar flares produce the highest amount of energy, typically sending a burst of radiation toward Earth. Additionally, during this event, the sun also produced a coronal mass ejection (CME). These are intense eruptions of charged particles from the sun’s upper atmosphere or corona.
Keep in mind that X-class flares produce 10 times more energy than M-class flares, which produce 10 times more energy than C-class flares. A single B-class flare can produce more energy than 240,000 million tons of TNT. The event was reported as the strongest observed by scientists since 2017 and has already caused a moderate radio blackout centered in South America. However, as this solar flare was not directly facing Earth, the mild blackout may be the extent of what we see.
In conclusion, the recent massive solar flare explosion and its associated effects serve as a reminder of the sheer power of the sun and its potential impact on Earth’s technology and communication systems.