The solar flare coming from the overactive sunspot called AR2975 is classified as an X-class solar flare and created a temporary blackout in shortwave radio signals on Wednesday, March 30, in the United States. SpaceWeather.com reported that aviators, mariners, and ham radio operators had all noticed the effects of the solar flare at frequencies below 30MHx.
More so, the "cannibal" coronal mass ejection (CME) could cause northern lights in areas they are not usually visible in the Northern Hemisphere, like Alaska, Iceland, and Scandinavia.
Sunspot Releases Huge X-Class Solar Flare: Expect to See Northern Lights in Places They Are Not Typically Seen
X-Class Solar Flare Detected During CME
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory officially caught imagery of the solar flare peaking at 1:35 p.m. EST (1835 GMT), Space.com reported. However, the American space agency did not give a detailed forecast aside from the generic risks associated with solar flares.
According to SpaceWeather, the U.S. Air Force first detected a Type II solar radio burst linked to the "cannibal" CME. It was followed by a report from the SDO that it had captured an image of a solar tsunami generated by CME that left the Sun's atmosphere.
NASA officials wrote in a statement that solar flares and solar eruptions could affect radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and especially spacecraft and astronauts.
Solar flares are classified into five categories in which A-class is the weakest followed by B, C, and M-class. But the X-class solar flare is the strongest that could cause significant damage. The SpaceWeather categorized the solar flare on Wednesday as an X1.3-class.
NASA and other space agencies are constantly monitoring solar activity, especially since the Sun began its new cycle of solar activity in 2019 and is expected to peak in 2025.
ALSO READ: Largest X-Class Solar Flare: Why It is Impossible for "Killer Solar Flare" to Destroy Earth
See the Northern Lights Other Than in the Northern Hemisphere
CMES are known to cause auroras as charged particles hit the magnetic field of Earth. However, powerful CMEs could not only affect power lines or spacecraft because they can also cause auroras in other parts of the world that do not usually see them.
Live Science considers the recent CME as a cannibal because it is a cloud-like release of magnetic plasma particles that eats smaller clouds and creates huge mega-blast, causing a massive geomagnetic storm that affects low-frequency radio waves.
According to @NWSSWPC, a geomagnetic storm category G3 is predicted tonight & early Thursday. The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) may be seen as far south as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.
— Jeff Forgeron (@WeatherJefe) March 30, 2022
Image Credit: @uafairbanks pic.twitter.com/B3rX7w06C5
Although solar events can make aurora borealis visible in the Northern Hemisphere, the kind of massive solar flare from the recent CME could make northern lights appear farther south. Futurism reported that the northern lights could become visible to the northern parts of the United States and as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon.
Experts said that northern lights are more visible in areas with less light pollution because the long duration of darkness and frequency of clear night skies provide the best view. In the northern hemisphere, locals usually watch for it at local midnight.
Check out more news and information on Solar Flares in Science Times.
