On Dec 17, M class solar flare blasted the Earth with both X-rays and UV radiation after an eruption from the Sun, prompting a shortwave radio blackout across part of the world; NOAA forecasters say there could possibly be more M-class flares.
Active Region-2911, the source of the solar flare, is expected to produce more flares. Solar flares are possible from Active Region 2908 and 2907, according to NOAA, but those regions "exhibited gradual decay" that would make them less likely to cause flares on Earth.
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X-class Flares: The Largest Solar Flares
"X-class flares" are the largest solar flares, according to a classification system that ranks flares based on their intensity.
A-class is the smallest, followed by B, C, M, and X-classes. Each letter on the Richter scale represents a 10-fold increase in energy output. From 1 to 9, there is a finer scale for each letter class, according to Weather Boy.
Solar radiation storms might be caused by these flares. A large-scale magnetic eruption causes charged particles in the solar atmosphere to accelerate to very high velocities, causing Solar Radiation Storms, according to the SWPC.
Protons, which are capable of being accelerated to significant fractions of the speed of light, are the most essential particles. A little more than an hour after the explosion, the protons will have arrived on Earth at these speeds.
These particles penetrate the magnetosphere, which shields Earth from lower-energy charged particles, when they arrive on Earth. Particles that enter the magnetosphere travel along magnetic field lines and enter the atmosphere near the poles.
It is possible for Solar Radiation Storms to have a wide range of effects on the Earth. It is possible for energetic protons to penetrate deep into satellites or humans in space and cause damage to electronic circuits or biological DNA.
Passengers and crew in high-altitude airplanes may be exposed to radiation during the most violent Solar Radiation Storms. Commercial planes may be directed away from radiation-risk locations during such storms.
Protons with high energy clash with molecules and atoms in the atmosphere, producing free electrons, according to the SWPC. High-frequency (HF) radio waves are absorbed by this layer of electrons near the bottom of the ionosphere. This makes radio communication difficult or impossible.
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) at NOAA uses a scale of S1-S5 to classify Solar Radiation Storms. When a Solar Radiation Storm occurs, it may last anywhere from minutes to days.
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How to Determine When Solar Wind is Reaching Earth
In order to predict the effects of a geomagnetic storm, NOAA forecasters use data from satellites. The combined impacts of a coronal hole and a coronal mass ejection might lead to a more severe impact and more violent geomagnetic storming on Earth.
One method forecasters may detect when the heightened solar wind from a coronal hole is due to arrive on Earth is to analyze data from the DSCOVER and ACE satellites.
The data experts use to calculate when the increased solar wind arrives on Earth is the speed of the solar wind increases, as well as the temperature, while particle density decreases and the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) increases.
With stunning auroras, these solar events have the potential to damage electronics and electrical grids as well as satellite and radio communications.
