Sun Unleashes Strongest Flare Since 2017: What You Need to Know (But Don’t Panic!)

On New Year’s Eve, a massive solar flare, the strongest in years, erupted from the sun. This event sparked a warning to some high-frequency radio users, but for the rest of us, there’s no need to be concerned.

What is a solar flare?

A solar flare is an eruption of energy from the sun that generally lasts minutes to hours. The strength of solar flares is classified on a scale ranging from B-class to X-class, with X-class being the most powerful.

The recent flare was categorized as an X5, which is much smaller than the largest-ever recorded flare, an X45 that occurred in 2003. However, it was the strongest flare since September 2017, when an X8.2 flare was detected.

What are the impacts of solar flares?

Solar flares can cause a variety of impacts, including:

• Radio blackouts: B- and C-class flares can cause brief radio blackouts at the poles.
• Radiation storms: M-class flares can cause minor radiation storms that might endanger astronauts.
• Satellite disruptions: X-class flares can cause radiation storms that can impact satellites.
• Global transmission problems: X-class flares can also cause global transmission problems.

What happened with the recent flare?

The recent X5 flare caused a temporary degradation or complete loss of signal on much of the sunlit side of Earth for users of high-frequency radio signals. However, the flare did not pose a threat to the general public.

What can we expect in the future?

Solar activity is expected to be more common in 2024 as the sun continues through Solar Cycle 25. Solar cycles are 11-year periods when the sun flips its magnetic poles, sparking space weather like flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can reach Earth in as little as 15 to 18 hours. While CMEs can cause auroras and impact navigation, communication, and radio signals, they are not a cause for alarm.

Should we be worried?

While it is important to be aware of space weather, there is no need to be worried about solar flares. Our electrical grids, flights, and communication systems have built-in redundancies to prevent or diminish any impact.

In fact, many people may not even notice when a solar storm hits. As Dr. Delores Knipp, a research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, previously told Nexstar, “They happen all the time and are no cause for alarm.”

So, while it is always good to be prepared for any eventuality, there is no need to panic about solar flares. Just enjoy the occasional aurora borealis or aurora australis, and remember that the sun is a powerful force that has been around for billions of years.

Additional tips:

• Stay informed about space weather by following the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
• If you are concerned about the impact of space weather on your specific needs, such as if you rely on high-frequency radio for communication, contact the SWPC for more information.
• Remember that the sun is a natural phenomenon, and solar flares are a part of its normal activity. There is no need to be afraid of them.

I hope this article has helped you to learn more about the recent solar flare and what it means for us.