Solar eruption on the sun causes radio disruptions across North America (video)

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This Earth-facing sunspot's been on a flare-blasting spree, spitting out multiple M-class solar flares in under 24 hours, along with a smattering of minor C-class eruptions.

On June 15, the most robust of these solar flares peaked at around 2:25 p.m. EDT (1825 GMT), nudging an M8.46-class - just a tad below the X-class, the most potent category of solar flares. This eruption also seeded a coronal mass ejection (CME), a colossal plume of solar plasma and magnetic field, part of which is headed our way. As per Spaceweather.com forecasts, the CME's flank could slam into Earth on June 18.

Should the CME reach Earth, our meteorologists reckon we could witness mild (G1-class) geomagnetic storm conditions, potentially sparking northern lights in areas as far south as northern Michigan and Maine.

Solar Flares: A Magnetic Spectacle

Solar flares ignite when magnetic energy builds up in the sun's atmosphere and is abruptly released in an explosive burst of electromagnetic radiation.

They are ranked in size, with lettered groups based on their strength:

X-class — The strongest
M-class — 10 times weaker than X
C, B, and A-class — Progressively weaker, with A-class flares generally having no discernible impact on Earth.

The June 15 flare clocked in at an M8.46, bordering the X-class territory.

Radio Ionization Across North America

Since flare radiation zips through space at light speed, it reaches Earth in just over eight minutes. Upon arrival, it ionizes the upper atmosphere (specifically the thermosphere), which can disrupt shortwave radio communication on the sunlit side of the planet.

With North America squarely facing the sun during the M8.46 event, it was the primary target for resulting shortwave radio blackouts.

Tomorrow's Twists

The sunspot region behind this fireworks show isn't slowing its pace. It released another M6.4 flare in the wee hours of June 16 at 5:30 a.m. EDT (0930 GMT) and continues to point toward us.

More solar flares and potentially additional CMEs may erupt in the coming days, offering us tantalizing glimpses of more northern lights displays as our planet remains in this highly active region's path.

To keep tabs on the latest aurora forecasts, check out our aurora forecast live blog, and for the latest geomagnetic activity breakdown, consult NOAA's 3-day forecast.

Solar Flares and their Impact on Earth

When a mammoth coronal mass ejection (CME) from an active sunspot intersects with Earth's magnetic field, it can stir up a host of effects on our planet.

Potential Effects of a CME Impact on Earth

Geomagnetic Storms — CMEs can perturb Earth's magnetosphere, resulting in geomagnetic storms. These storms can create various intensities, with stronger storms possibly spelling out more severe disruptions.
Aurora Displays — Geomagnetic storms can shove the aurora borealis (northern lights) and aurora australis (southern lights) to lower latitudes, making them visible in regions typically unknown for such shows.
Communication Disruptions
- Radio Blackouts — Solar flares associated with CMEs can cause radio blackouts, impacting communication systems, particularly aviation.
- Satellite Communications — Geomagnetic storms can meddle with satellite communications by causing signal delays or loss, impacting services like GPS and broadband internet.
Power Grids and Energy Systems
- Power Outages — Geomagnetic storms can generate electrical currents in long-distance power lines, potentially leading to power grid breakdowns and blackouts.
- Transformer Overheating — Geomagnetically induced currents can cause transformers to overheat, necessitating expensive repairs or replacements.
Navigation Systems
- GPS Disruptions — CMEs can disrupt GPS signals, affecting navigation systems used in aviation, maritime, and land transportation.
- Aviation and Maritime Impacts — Disruptions to GPS and communication systems can increase the hazard during navigation, particularly in high-latitude regions.
Spacecraft and Satellite Risks — CMEs can escalate the risk of harm to spacecraft and satellites due to increased radiation levels and charged particles.
Scientific Research — The interaction of CMEs with Earth's magnetic field offers valuable insights into space weather and the Sun's coronal behavior.

In sum, strong CMEs can have sweeping impacts on Earth's technological systems and natural happenings, underscoring the significance of monitoring and predicting space weather events.

Keeping up with the latest news and forecasts about potential environmental impacts on Earth, such as geomagnetic storms caused by solar flares, can be important for those interested in science and the environment, as well as for agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The increased activity of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) not only holds the potential for stunning aurora displays, but it also raises concerns about disruptions in various areas, ranging from communication systems and navigation to power grids, energy systems, and scientific research.
A better understanding of how solar flares and CMEs interact with Earth's atmosphere, as well as the sun's magnetic field, is essential not only for the study of environmental science and space-and-astronomy but also for predicting and mitigating potential disturbances to our modern technological systems.
The history of space-related events, such as the instances of solar weather that have caused CMEs, provide us with a valuable reference when it comes to understanding the present and future of our relationship with the sun and the potential impacts on our planet's weather and environment.