Solar storm! Sun unleashes massive X-class solar flare, triggers radio blackouts on February 9

There is no respite from solar storms for Earth. On February 9, a massive X-class solar flare erupted from the sun, causing radio blackouts in parts of South America and Africa.

A solar storm just pummelled Earth. On February 9, the sun emitted a powerful X-class solar flare, causing radio blackouts. (Pixabay)

There is no respite from solar storms for Earth. The Sun emitted a powerful X-class solar flare on February 9, reaching its peak at 8:10 a.m. (1310 GMT), resulting in shortwave radio blackouts across regions of South America, Africa, and the Southern Atlantic. Originating from sunspot AR3576, which had previously exhibited an M-class flare and plasma eruption on February 5, this recent solar flare marked a significant event in solar activity. Fortunately, by February 8, the sunspot had moved away as the sun and Earth rotated, thereby diverting the planet from the solar storm's direct trajectory.

Coronal Mass Ejection and Solar Impact

Accompanying the solar flare was a coronal mass ejection (CME), characterized by a substantial release of plasma and magnetic field from the sun. Observations by heliophysicist Alex Young indicated a clear eruption, with a coronal wave suggesting a rapid CME trajectory westward, Space.com reported.

Although the sunspot's location far to the south diminishes the likelihood of a direct impact on Earth from the CME associated with AR3576, its effects were nonetheless felt. The X-flare induced extensive radio blackouts due to the intense pulse of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation, ionizing the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere and disrupting shortwave radio communication in sunlit regions, including South America, Africa, and the Southern Atlantic.

Solar flares occur due to the release of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere, categorized by their intensity and size, with X-class flares being the most potent. The recent flare registered as X.3.38, highlighting its significant magnitude. This heightened solar activity coincides with the approaching "solar maximum" phase of the sun's 11-year solar cycle.

As scientists monitor the sun's activity closely, the emergence of giant sunspots and the potential for further solar flares raise concerns for satellite operations and electronic systems on Earth. Agencies such as NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center and the World Data Center for the Sunspot Index work diligently to assess these threats and improve space weather forecasting. Additionally, NASA's Heliophysics Systems Observatory continues to study the sun and its influence on the solar system, aiming to enhance our understanding of space weather phenomena.

Also, read these top stories today:

Meta launches Crackdown! Instagram, in a blog post, said it will not "proactively recommend" political content from accounts that users do not already follow.

Some interesting details in this article. Check it out here. If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.

Cybercriminals caught! Malware allowed cybercriminals to secretly connect to peoples' computers for malicious purposes. Hackers browsed users' files, obtain a victim's user names and passwords, record keystrokes and even watch users through their web cameras! Dive in here. Found it interesting? Go on, and share it with everyone you know.

Magic words! Disney is harnessing AI to power a new advertising tool that will help brands tailor their commercials to fit the mood of specific scenes within a movie or television series. Check what is on the cards here.  If you enjoyed reading this article, please forward it to your friends and family.