The Sun seemed to be having a difficult time all by itself as you and your significant other were enjoying your perfectly relaxing pre-weekend. Valentine’s The effects of the Sun’s tantrums will certainly be noticed on February 14 as well.
Earth-orbiting satellites picked up an X1-class solar outburst from sunspot AR3217 on Saturday.
Based on the intensity of the X-rays released by solar flares, NOAA has divided them into five categories: A, B, C, M, and X, with each level having ten times the intensity of the previous. Additionally, X-class flares are the largest and most powerful ones that can exist, capable of causing global radio blackouts and protracted radiation storms.
As predicted, the flare’s intense UV radiation ionised Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing a significant shortwave radio blackout over South America on Saturday. For up to an hour following the flare, ham radio operators, pilots, and seafarers may have observed unexpected propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz. This outburst was abrupt, fierce, and quick.
While a coronal mass ejection (CME) was not produced by this event, another explosion was.
Five hours prior to the X-flare, a CME was sent into space by a magnetic filament that erupted from the Sun’s northern hemisphere. The majority of the CME will pass north of Earth, but on February 14 some of it will strike Earth briefly.
And for Valentine’s Day, Arctic sky viewers might enjoy a light show!
Space weather specialists have subsequently explained that reports of a chunk of the Sun breaking off last week are false and that the event was simply a solar prominence.
Dr. Tamitha Skov, a space weather scientist, commented on her blog, “It is all part of the completely regular and magnificent solar ballet.
As the solar maximum of its 11-year cycle draws near, the Sun’s activity is increasing. Additionally, it has released 34 coronal mass ejections and 20 significant solar flares in the past week.
ALSO READ: A Look at the Sun’s 20 solar flares and 34 coronal mass ejections
