Sun Spits Out Huge Solar Flare (And That’s Just the Beginning)

We are heading for a solar maximum.

Scientists have used NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory – a space probe that keeps a close eye on our parent star – spotted a powerful solar flare on our parent star. Such powerful bursts of energy can affect our radio communications and power grids, but can also pose a significant health risk to astronauts. According to researchers, the solar flare is just the beginning. Because as the solar maximum approaches, we may be able to expect much more extreme space weather.

solar flares

A solar flare is basically an explosion on the surface of the sun, caused by the sudden release of the energy held in the magnetic fields. Radiation is generated over the entire region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Solar flares can be divided into three main classes. Class C concerns small eruptions that hardly affect the earth. A notch more violent is class M. These are moderate eruptions, which can cause short periods of radio failure around the poles. The heaviest solar flares are classified under class X: eruptions that can destroy radio links and power plants on Earth. And the recently noticed solar flare, falls under class X†

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare on March 30, 2022. The solar flare is the bright flash at the top right. Image: NASA

Starlink satellites

It is not the first time this year that we are confronted with a heady sun. Last February, the newly launched Starlink satellites were hit by an unexpected geomagnetic storm — a temporary disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar flares. And so at least 40 of the 49 satellites launched had to be considered lost.

solar cycle

The events show that we are currently heading fast towards a so-called solar maximum. When most solar storms occur depends on the cycle of the sun. Our parent star goes through a roughly 11-year cycle, characterized by a solar minimum – a period when the sun is very calm and generates few sunspots and flares – and a solar maximum, during which the star is much more active. In 2020 we have rolled into a new solar cycle: the 25th.

This split image shows the difference between an active sun during solar maximum (left, captured in April 2014) and a still sun during solar minimum (right, captured in December 2019). Image: NASA/SDO

The sun is expected to become increasingly active in the coming years, reaching a peak around 2025. Researchers previously predicted that the 25th solar cycle — like the 24th — will be relatively uneventful. In total we will only see about 115 sunspots. But American scientists don’t quite agree. Instead, they predict that this 25th solar cycle could go down in the books as the most intense ever. According to them, the sun will produce between 210 and 260 sunspots in the next solar cycle; a record number.

Preparation

Be that as it may, preparation is crucial at all times. “Even if it’s a below-average solar cycle, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a risk of extreme space weather,” solar physicist Doug Biesecker said earlier. “The impact of the sun on our daily lives is real.” And so precautions are taken – as far as possible. “There’s no bad weather, just bad preparation,” said NASA’s Jake Bleacher. “Space weather is what it is – our job is to prepare.” Understanding the cycles of the sun is an important part of that preparation. In addition, scientists keep a detailed record of solar flares that have occurred, in order to make better predictions about the future.

Canada

So NASA and other space agencies are constantly monitoring solar activity to improve the sun’s weather forecasts. Incidentally, our earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that protects us against the vagaries of the sun, among other things. In most cases, high-energy particles emitted from the sun only cause impressive auroras. But stronger storms can certainly cause problems, as we saw in Quebec City in Canada in 1989, for example. At the time, the sun caused an electricity grid in Canada to shut down and some six million people were without power for more than nine hours.

In addition, better space weather predictions will become increasingly important as space organizations and companies deploy more manned space missions. Because once outside Earth’s protective magnetic field, extreme space weather can pose a huge health risk to astronauts and the electronics they build on.