Powerful 'X-Class' Solar Flare Hits Earth, Causes Radio Blackout in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand

A strong solar flare hit our planet earlier this week. It was so powerful that some countries experienced radio blackouts.

'X-Class' Solar Flare Hit Earth

On Tuesday, a powerful solar flare erupted, sending X-ray and ultraviolet radiation to Earth at the speed of light. The flare occurred at 10: 33 p.m. E.T. It was classified as an "X-class" flare, the most powerful type, Science Alert reported.

It was so strong that it caused a radio blackout for about an hour on the dayside of Earth, including some parts of Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

According to ESA Operation, a strong solar flare exploded from the Sun in the region called "AR3256." The agency noted that "X" flares are the strongest and biggest solar flares and usually cause disruption, including radio blackouts.

Additionally, while "X" denotes the most intense flare, the number signifies their strength. Tuesday's X1.2 solar flare isn't the largest the Sun produced in history.

ESA added that once a flare is observed, it's a hit. The electromagnetic energy produced will reach Earth in eight minutes and cause some radio blackouts on the dayside.

More Flares Are Coming Up

The Sun has already produced three moderate "M-Class" flares, which is just one level below the "X-Class" solar flares, according to a report from the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday.

The report warned that more M-Class flares are coming up in the following days, with a "slight chance" of another X-class flare on Thursday.

The X-class solar flare on Tuesday was the seventh so far this year. We are still in the first quarter of the year, suggesting that the solar activity in 2023 will likely surpass 2022, which observed a total of seven X-class solar flares, SpaceWeather.com reported.

However, although the solar flare on Tuesday was powerful, it was on the lower end of the X-class flares because it was only X1.2. The Sun can produce flares as big as X28, which can affect technologies on Earth.

Aside from radio blackouts, when a solar flare or eruption is too strong, it can cause power blackouts, knock satellites out of orbit and confuse GPS.

Solar activity also triggers the colorful displays of Northern Lights or aurora borealis. Last week, a G4-class geomagnetic event lit up the Canadian skies, Global News reported.

Coronal Hole Spotted

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spotted a coronal hole, which is a normal phenomenon. However, the position of the hole was unique because it is near the Sun's equator, according to Daniel Verscharen, associate professor of space and climate physics at University College London.

Since the Sun rotates, an equatorial coronal hole can point towards Earth at some point. NASA assures that coronal holes are usually harmless. However, they can affect the Earth's magnetic field, technology, and satellites.

As mentioned, large flares can overload the electrical system, affect airline flights, and destroy energy supplies. High-altitude radio transmissions and satellite communications may also experience temporary disruptions.

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