The past few months, the sun had comparatively reduced levels of solar activity. Now, according to Newsweek, its activity is assumed to heightened as it may eject more solar flares.
High Solar Activity and Sunspots Observed
Based on sun images taken last December 4, there are five huge and visible sunspots and two magnetism filaments that face the earth.
Newsweek notes that according to Argentina-based astrophotographer Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau's statement to Spaceweather, great prominence can be observed in the southeast limb of the sun as well as in the southern hemisphere. However, in the disk, Poupeau noted that a region of activity called AR3153 contains remarkably-sized sunspots. Immense filament can also be observed in this region.
Aside from that, Poupeau also notes filaments present in the northern hemisphere. However, beyond that, there are also three other regions in this area that are highly active and that hold several sunspots.
Sunspots on the Surface of the Sun
Sunspots are particular areas found on the surface of the sun where there are significantly greater energy levels in magnetic fields. These heightened levels result from twists in lines of the magnetic fields. When the twisted lines abruptly expel the energy that they store, solar flares or CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) may occur.
CMEs contain several millions worth of solar plasma tons. Solar flares, on the other hand, are electromagnetic radiation flares that are expelled by the sun. When these activities are directed toward earth, they may lead to various impacts depending on their degree of power.
According to astrophysics scientist Gonzalo José Carracedo Carballal, solar flares get categorized based on their brightness in the spectrum's X-ray area that is soft.
The strongest flares are dubbed X-class fares while the weakest ones are called A-class flares. There are also M-class, C-class, and B-class flares that come in between.
NASA notes that X-class flares are the biggest explosions within the solar system. Moreover, because of their strength, X-class flares may lead to blackouts across the entire planet and radiation storms that may last for a while.
Though the intensity of solar flares are gauged through the X-ray flux, there are other bands that the sun transmits as it ejects flares.
At times, radio bands get emitted because of solar flares. These have the capacity to affect different applications of radios on the day-side. In most cases, such effects are associated with solar flares that are X-class.
Hyperactive Sunspot AR3157
According to Spaceweather, there is one particular sunspot, dubbed AR3157, that was hyperactive during the weekend. Its hyperactivity reportedly took place prior to facing earth. Spaceweather shares the probability of the sunspot flaring within this week.
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