An almost X-class-level flare has been unleashed by the Sun. It was only slightly less strong compared to the most powerful solar flares.
Almost X-class-level Solar Flare Unleashed
The powerful flare had already bombarded the Earth with radiation. It also unleashed a strong coronal mass ejection (CME) that may slam onto the Earth by tomorrow.
These massive explosions get triggered when the magnetic fields surrounding sunspots end up snapping and flinging plasma right into space.
On November 28, a huge flare exploded from a dark patch close to the equator of the Sun. The flare was measured to be a magnitude 9.8 M-class flare, slightly falling below the X-class flare threshold.
Coronal Mass Ejection Could Hit the Earth
It then released an initial solar radiation wave that hit the Earth on November 29. This led to minor radio blackouts as the magnetic shield of the Earth was triggered. It also further ionized the atmosphere's top portion.
The CME unleashed by the flare sprang out of the Sun at a speed of roughly 2.9 million kmph. If the CME indeed hits the planet, the Earth's magnetosphere will end up repelling it. However, the collision could lead to the magnetosphere's weakening, leading to a geomagnetic storm that could lead to ethereal aurora displays in the night sky.
Such a storm will be either G1 or G2, meaning it will be minor to moderate and will not threaten any infrastructure on the ground or any satellites.
However, on the way to Earth, this CME could end up cannibalizing another one of smaller size. This was spat out by a smaller one on November 27. This could end up powering up the storm that results from it.
Heightened Solar Activity
This year, solar flares have gotten more intense and frequent. Since January, 11 X-class flares have already taken place. This is more than the cumulative number of the last five years.
At least three of these flares have unleashed CMEs that smashed into the Earth. The first one took place in early January, while the second one smashed last February and also led to a solar tsunami during its eruption. The most recent coronal mass ejection last July was unleashed by a massive sunspot that is 10 times the Earth's width.
Heightened solar activity has also been observed in other ways, such as the growing number of sunspots over the surface of the Sun and the growing temperatures in the upper atmosphere of the Earth. This is leading to more solar radiation being soaked up.
The increase in solar activity comes as the Sun nears the peak of its 11-year cycle. This peak, called the solar maximum, is believed to start around next year.
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