The Sun has been very active this week. It has released its third coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. An X-class solar flare triggered this latest event. This is the most powerful type of solar flare. The flare came from an active sunspot named AR3777.
What Happened?
On August 8, 2024, the sunspot AR3777 fired off an X1.3-class solar flare. This flare was the strongest from this sunspot so far. It peaked at around 3:35 p.m. EDT (1935 UTC). The flare caused disruptions to shortwave radio across North America, including the Hawaiian Islands.
What is a Solar Flare?
A solar flare is a sudden eruption of increased high-energy radiation from the Sun’s surface. It usually happens near sunspots. Solar flares release a lot of energy. This energy travels to Earth and can affect our planet in many ways.
The X-class is classified as the most powerful flares. The number following the X indicates the strength of the flare. For example, X1.3 is a strong flare.
What is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)?
A CME is a massive burst of solar wind and highly magnetized plasma fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. CMEs can cause geomagnetic storms when they hit Earth.
These storms can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communications systems. They can also create beautiful auroras known as the Northern and Southern Lights.
There may have been more, but here is an animation of three coronal waves combined that have been observed since 7 August 2024. The last one, associated with the X1.3 flare in AR 13777, is by far the most impressive. pic.twitter.com/FTPyXCTGE1
— Halo CME (@halocme) August 9, 2024Three CMEs in One Week
This week, the Sun has sent three CMEs toward Earth. The first two CMEs were from M-class solar flares that erupted on August 7, 2024. The third CME, from the X1.3-class flare, is the most powerful. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ‘s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) are closely monitoring these events.
Impact on Earth
The trio of CMEs is expected to reach Earth by the end of the weekend. A geomagnetic storm watch is in place through Sunday, August 11, 2024. The current projection is for a G2 (Moderate) solar storm. Scientists will continue monitoring the impacts on Earth once the CMEs arrive.
Radio Blackouts
The X1.3-class solar flare caused shortwave radio blackouts. These blackouts affected North America, including the Hawaiian Islands. Radio blackouts are common after powerful solar flares.
They happen because the intense bursts of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation ionize the upper atmosphere. This ionization creates a denser environment for high-frequency radio signals to pass through, which can degrade or completely absorb the radio signals.
Auroras
The CMEs could also mean increased opportunities to see auroras. Auroras are natural light displays in the Earth’s sky. They are usually seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic.
The CMEs are timed perfectly with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 11 and 12. Skywatchers could potentially catch two stunning celestial spectacles this weekend.
Speed of CMEs
CMEs travel at different speeds. Thursday’s eruption surpassed 2.2 million mph (1,000 km/s). There are no speed limits for CMEs. They can travel very fast and reach Earth in a matter of days.
Editor’s Recommendations
- Cosmic Breakthrough, Recreating the Big Bang to Discover Origins of Matter
- Mapping the Stars, New Targets in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
- Milky Way’s Hidden Treasures, 10 Dead Stars Discovered
- Are Aliens Using Quantum Communication to Stay Hidden
- Hidden Moons Around Asteroids: Gaia’s Astounding Discovery
