NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory on Thursday captured an image of the sun emitting a mid-level solar flare that peaked at 1.01am EST (11.31am IST). Solar flares are powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation that can last from minutes to hours. NASA classifies the flare as an M5.5-class flare, a moderately severe X-ray flare.
“The sun launched a mid-level solar flare on January 20, 2022, peaking at 1:01 a.m. EST,” NASA said.
While harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, when it is intense, it can affect radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts. According to NASA, increased levels of X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation have caused ionization in the lower layer of the ionosphere on the sunlit side of Earth.
When a sufficiently strong solar flare occurs, radio waves interacting with electrons in the ionosphere lose energy due to more frequent collisions in the dense environment in the lower layers of the ionosphere. This can lead to degradation and complete absorption of the HF radio signal, resulting in radio blackouts. Usually associated with sunspot groups. As these magnetic fields develop, they reach unstable levels and release energy in various forms. These include electromagnetic radiation observed in the form of solar flares,” NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said on its website.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
