Experts have warned of mass blackouts and potential further communication disruptions across the Earth as the most intense solar flare this year is poised to create a freak solar event.
On May 14, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory confirmed it had captured an X2.7 class solar flare erupting from the sun at around 04:25 (ET).
While this particular event is considered the most intense of the year so far by scientists, it’s just one of the two X-classified flares to have escaped the surface of the sun in the past week.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that the solar event came from the sun’s most active region, which is currently being pushed around to directly face Earth.
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Already, the solar flare has disrupted high-frequency radio signals in the Middle East for around ten minutes. Space.com also reports that areas of Europe and Asia were also thrown into disarray.
The bad news is that, apparently, more chaos across the planet could ensue shortly.
Space scientists at NASA have stated the solar flare - derived from new sunspot AR4087 - could further impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
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It’s also likely that disruptions from solar flares will be accompanied by auroras from coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
CMEs take place when charged particles from the sun pass through the Earth’s atmosphere, thus creating technicolor displays known as the Northern Lights.
“When directed toward Earth, a solar storm can create a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, that can produce effects such as radio blackouts, power outages, and beautiful auroras,” NASA explained.
While no CME has been confirmed from the recent flare, it hasn’t stopped the space agency from prophesying which US states will be able to see the solar storm if it does happen.
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Where in the US will you be able to see the possible solar storm?
The areas you may be able to see the Northern Lights include:
- Michigan
- Alaska
- Washington
- Montana
- North and South Dakota
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- Maine
- Wisconsin.
'This is getting intense'
Vincent Ledvina, a space weather scientist at the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) who specializes in solar activity and its effects on Earth’s space environment, has also had his say.
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He told the New York Post: “This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view.
“The energy released by this flare has the potential to disrupt radio communications and GPS signals.”
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He added that experts are ‘closely monitoring’ sunspot region AR4087, as its ‘position on the sun increases the likelihood of Earth-directed solar storms.’
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As the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, scientists are monitoring several volatile sunspot regions, like AR4087, that have the potential to unleash further solar storms.
It’s understood that monitoring efforts have been stepped up by space agencies amid concerns that the Earth’s power systems and communications could be significantly impacted.
The good news
First of all, the US Space Weather Prediction Centre at NOAA says that X-class flares are not frequent.
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Secondly, due to the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic shield, we are safe from harmful radiation at ground level.
And finally, NOAA has confirmed to US TODAY that there is a lower chance of solar flares impacting the Earth in the next few days.
"The risk for (high frequency) radio degradation through the rest of the week is low,” Shawn Dahl, NOAA's SWPC Service Coordinator, told the publication.
Ella Scott