According to NASA, on December 14, the Sun experienced a powerful X-class flare,
which released a huge pulse of high-energy radiation. As SpaceWeather.com
is reported by SpaceWeather.com, according to UNN.
Details
The power of the flare is registered as X2.8, which makes it the most powerful
solar flare since September 2017. Powerful flares like this one are often
accompanied by coronal mass ejections that send huge clouds of
of solar plasma into space at millions of miles per hour.
On Earth, flares can trigger geomagnetic storms, which can
disrupt power grids and other infrastructure. Such storms can also
enhance the aurora, making these celestial light phenomena more intense
and visible over large areas.
SEE ALSO: Northern lights were observed in several regions of Ukraine
The Earth's atmosphere absorbs harmful radiation that reaches our
planet. But this radiation can still affect our lives, for example
affecting the signals transmitted by GPS and communication satellites and causing
radio communications blackouts. Today's outbreak also caused a blackout
shortwave radio communications over North and South America.
SpaceWeather.com believes that we will soon be able to see more
solar activity as the Sun is becoming more and more active these days.
Solar activity waxes and wanes on an 11-year cycle. The National
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that the current 25th
solar cycle will peak between January and October next year.
SEE ALSO: Mysterious "sparks" on the Sun may help
scientists to predict solar flares