X2.9-Class Solar Flare Erupts from Sun’s Eastern Limb

0 0
Read Time:2 Minute

Solar Activity Sparks Interest in Solar Flares

All attention has now turned to the eastern limb of the sun following the emergence of a potent X2.9-class flare from the recently designated sunspot region AR3685 on Wednesday (May 15). Solar flares represent intense outbursts of electromagnetic radiation emanating from sunspots present on the surface of our sun. These flares are categorized into various groups based on their strength, with X-class flares being the most formidable. Within each of these classifications, numerical values from 1 to 10 (and exceeding for X-class flares) indicate the intensity of a flare.

Impact of Latest Solar Flare

The recent event coincided with a shortwave radio blackout that primarily affected the Atlantic Ocean region. Additionally, the consequences of this flare were observed in western Africa, Europe, and parts of the central and eastern United States. Simultaneously, a coronal mass ejection (CME) was also discharged. However, owing to the position of the originating sunspot region, this ejection is not directed towards Earth, resulting in lesser ramifications compared to the significant geomagnetic storms witnessed over the past weekend.

Forecast and Updates

Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center provided insights in a morning forecast, highlighting the presence of other visible sunspot regions. Nevertheless, the developments are being closely monitored to ascertain subsequent occurrences. Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, expressed, “We do know there are other regions back there, including the one that just rotated around the limb recently, and we’ll see if they survive and how strong they might be.”

See also
NASA's Solar Sail Mission Successfully Phones Home

The SWPC reported an escalation in geomagnetic storm conditions to a G2 level overnight, signifying a moderately intense disturbance to Earth’s magnetic field. While the situation did not mirror the events of the previous Friday and Saturday, reports of auroras, such as the northern lights, were documented in certain regions in the US like Colorado.

Future Outlook

Despite the fluctuations in solar activity, experts emphasize that there is ample opportunity for solar activity to intensify during this solar cycle. Dahl remarked, “We’re in solar maximum. We don’t know when the peak is going to be — if it’s sometime this year or early next. The chance to continue to see sunspot groups that can produce a lot of activity are going to continue here, and we just evaluate them day by day.”

Image/Photo credit: source url

About Post Author

Chris Jones

Hey there! 👋 I'm Chris, 34 yo from Toronto (CA), I'm a journalist with a PhD in journalism and mass communication. For 5 years, I worked for some local publications as an envoy and reporter. Today, I work as 'content publisher' for InformOverload. 📰🌐 Passionate about global news, I cover a wide range of topics including technology, business, healthcare, sports, finance, and more. If you want to know more or interact with me, visit my social channels, or send me a message.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %