Business 2 CommunityMassive Solar Flare From Sun Knocks Out Radio Communications
A massive solar flare on Friday managed to knock out radio communications in some parts of the world. The event has been given the X1.8 classification, the most powerful solar flare event currently recorded. The solar flare peaked on Friday evening at 7:28 p.m. EST and was photographed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The solar flare was recorded in Active Region 2242. Experts say that the region is large and complex, and more radio blackouts could be on the way. The large solar flare was spotted after a week of very active sun storms.
When pointed at Earth, X-class solar storms have been known to disrupt GPS systems, and even threaten the normal operation of satellites. The storms can also be dangerous to Astronauts.
Researchers are expecting more M-class flares this week. Those flares are 10% as strong as X-class flares, but still provide dazzling Northern Lights displays as they create geomagnetic storms.
The recent solar flares that triggered blackouts were focused on Australia and the South Pacific.
The solar cycle last 11-years and during that time it features various peaks. The sun is currently in the peak phase of Solar Cycle 24.
A solar flare is a large energy release that can be equivalent to 160,000,000,000 megatons of TNT. The Hiroshima bomb in comparison was approximately three megatons.
Electrons, ions, and atoms are ejected via the flare from the corona of the sun into the expanses of space, typically reaching the Earth after one to two days.
Here is the NASA image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft. The black and white photo shows the active sunspot regions currently visible on the surface of the sun. Active Region 2242 released its massive solar flare one day after this image was recorded.
This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: Massive Solar Flare From Sun Knocks Out Radio Communications
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