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The space weather detection system has observed a powerful M6.8 class solar flare. This is what it can bring
Solar flare causes radio blackout and radiation storm
The Sun has unleashed a powerful M6.8 class solar flare this morning on January 29. The extreme ultraviolet flash was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory when it originated in sunspot AR3559. This major solar flare is already having notable effects and is expected to cause even more impacts across Earth in the coming days. It should be noted that solar flares, intense bursts of energy, are classified according to their strength starting with A, B, C, M and X as the most powerful solar flares. Furthermore, each category has nine subdivisions such as X1, X2, X3… and X9. This flare also had its impact on Earth.
Radio blackout in Australia
The solar flare caused a shortwave radio blackout in Australia shortly after its eruption. The solar flare generated enough charged particles to cause a shortwave radio blackout categorized as R2, resulting in a loss of signal for more than an hour. Radio amateurs and sailors in the region likely felt the impacts.
Space weather expert Dr. Tamitha Skov said in her X post: “M6.8-flare now! Region 3559 triggers a level R2 #RadioBlackout and a level S1 #radiation storm. Expect #HF radio and #GPS outages in Australia, Asia Pacific, India and Africa over the next hour. Impacts on navigation in the polar region and airline communications will last 2-3 days. (sic)”
The next radiation storm?
Additionally, the flare will almost certainly cause an S1-class or stronger radiation storm to impact Earth within hours, according to the latest forecast from spaceweather.com. Although AR3559 is not directly facing Earth, it has a strong magnetic connection, as illustrated by something called the Parker Spiral. “It will almost certainly cause a radiation storm. Sunspot AR3559 is well connected to Earth. This may seem counterintuitive because the sunspot is not directly in front of us. However, when sunspots are near the western edge of the Sun, they can become magnetically linked to our planet,” SpaceWeather.com mentioned in its report.
To measure these solar flares and their activity, there are several systems to identify them, including direct and indirect methods. A direct method involves the use of meteorological satellites such as GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite), which measures the X-rays emitted by the Sun.