The X2-class flare exploded from the sun’s limb over a region of intense magnetic activity designated AR (active region) 2339. Although it wasn’t Earth-facing, the flare still had a dramatic effect on Earth — the high-energy extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray radiation bathed our planet’s uppermost atmosphere, causing waves of ionization.
Known as the ionosphere, these uppermost layers are used to bounce global radio communications around the globe and, shortly after the solar flare that occurred at 22:11 UT (6:11 p.m. ET) yesterday, radio operators reported a wide-spread outage of frequencies below 20 MHz, writes Spaceweather.com. This frequency would have likely impacted mariners, aviators and ham radio operators.
The eruption also generated its own radio burst at shortwave frequencies that could be recorded by ground-based receivers. These radio emissions were caused by the rapid acceleration of electrons trapped within the powerful magnetic fields in the lower corona (the sun’s superheated atmosphere).
A coronal mass ejection (CME) was also observed accelerating into interplanetary space from the flaring region, but as AR2339 is facing perpendicular to Earth’s location, it’s not thought to be Earth-directed, though space weather forecasters will be keeping a close eye on the trajectory of the magnetic bubble of solar plasma. If the CME were to be aimed at Earth, dramatic geomagnetic storms could result, boosting the intensity of solar radiation around Earth and triggering auroral activity in higher latitudes.
This is the second X2-class flare to erupt in 2015, proving that, although the sun may be gradually waning in activity for this solar cycle, it can still pack a powerful punch.
From Discovery News
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