Solar flares from the sun are happening a lot more lately. Here’s why.

Numerous spacecraft are staring directly at the sun. And for good reason.

Space agencies, scientists, and nations want to better understand the storm sun, a glowing sphere of gas that can set off energy blasts from its surface. A common such event is a solar flare. This is an explosion that emits light and energy into space and sometimes toward the earth. As the Sun becomes more active in the next few years, we may hear more about such solar events, but it’s definitely normal and natural behavior from a medium-sized star near you. No. Fortunately, the Earth protects us from potential harm, but power grids and communications can be severely damaged.

Like storm seasons and climate patterns on Earth, the sun has weather cycles. The life of the sun is 11 years. During this pattern, solar activity increases for about 5.5 years, then decreases and then picks up again.

“It’s the space equivalent of a hurricane season. We’re entering the next season,” Mark Misch, a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, told Mashable.

In this current cycle, solar activity will peak around July 2025(opens in new tab) (aka “solar maximum”). So expect fireworks. for example, NOAA recently reported(opens in new tab) On February 17th, the “sun emits a powerful #SolarFlare,” temporary Radio blackout. Importantly, those standing on Earth were not in danger. In the next few years you may see sensational hype about the arrival of solar flares on the Internet. Yes, there is a possibility of communication failure. It is therefore essential to observe the sun and prepare for its potential impact. But civilization does not end.

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“Humans have been on Earth for millions of years,” Miesch said. “There won’t be a big solar flare tomorrow that knocks everyone out.”

What do scientists know about the solar cycle

Scientists have a firm grasp on the 11-year solar cycle. Centuries of observation show that the Sun has cycled like this for at least about 400 years.(opens in new tab)In the 1800s, German astronomer Heinrich Schwabe used a telescope to observe the Sun almost every day for 42 years.(opens in new tab)He saw an abundance of sunspots, cooler spots on the sun’s surface, that increase as solar activity increases. Schwabe observed and depicted sunspots appearing and growing on the surface of the Sun, providing particularly clear evidence of the 11-year cycle.

We are currently in Solar Cycle 25, called the ‘Solar Minimum’, which began in 2019 when solar activity (spots, solar flares, etc.) subsided. As the NASA chart below shows, the difference between minimum and maximum values ​​is significant.

Today, solar scientists use satellites and spacecraft to monitor the dynamic behavior of the Sun. for example, solar UV imager(opens in new tab) Continuously monitoring solar activity aboard NOAA weather satellites, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory seeks to better understand the sun’s fickle weather and the impact of such violent solar eruptions on Earth.

Effects of Solar Flares on Earth and People

Solar flares can affect the Earth when emitted light particles collide with it. This is the kind of space weather that NOAA, NASA, and other agencies are aiming to better understand and predict. But this is not the only potentially problematic space weather. There are three main solar eruptions that can affect Earth:

1. Solar flare: A burst of light from the surface of the Sun. Driven by the motion of the Sun’s magnetic field, they emit large amounts of energy (visible light, X-rays, etc.) into space.

2. Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): These occur when the Sun emits large amounts of super hot gas (plasma). “It’s like scooping up a piece of the sun and releasing it into space,” he explains NOAA’s Misch. A solar flare may or may not cause him a CME.

3. Solar Energy Particle (SEP) Events: These are essentially solar flares containing many energetic particles. They are especially dangerous for astronauts and satellites.

The big question is how different types of flares and radiation affect our lives. good luck, life on Earth is protected from such particles and radiation. Our atmosphere protects us from things like X-rays and energetic particles emitted by the sun. On the other hand, the Earth’s powerful magnetic field (produced by the Earth’s metallic core) deflects many particles from the solar storms, the Sun’s constant solar wind, the constant stream of particles (electrons and protons) from the stars, protect the

Yet the Earth and our modern technology are still affected by these solar events. Some influences happen to be glorious. Some can even damage your infrastructure.brilliant results Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other space weather cause these brilliant “dancing light” sky events. When solar particles hit the Earth, some become trapped in the planet’s magnetic field and travel to the poles where they collide with molecules and particles in the atmosphere. During this collision, these atmospheric particles heat up and glow.

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However, the range of potential hazards varies from severity to easily problematic To very harmfulcan occur when a powerful solar flare or CME hits the Earth.

A powerful solar flare that struck Earth on February 17 caused temporary radio disturbances in some areas. NOAA rated it “STRONG Radio Blackout event”(opens in new tab) The darkening rating is 3 out of 5. Indeed, the burst of radiation from the Sun was powerful. However, about 175 such events occur during each solar cycle, according to NOAA.(opens in new tab).

However, things can get much worse when a powerful CME hits the planet. Ultimately, such solar storms can induce strong currents in power grids, among other detrimental effects on satellites. Infamously, in 1989, a powerful CME occurred in Quebec, Canada, causing power outages for millions of people. The CME collided with the Earth’s magnetic field on his March 12th of that year, after which he wrote NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald:(opens in new tab)“Just after 2:44 a.m. on March 13, the current discovered a weakness in the Quebec grid. In less than two minutes, the entire Quebec grid lost power. During a 12-hour blackout, millions lost power, and people suddenly found themselves in dark office buildings, underground pedestrian tunnels, and dead elevators.” Scary indeed.

“It’s not about getting sleepy, but it’s something to take seriously.”

That’s why agencies like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center keep a close eye on the Sun.(opens in new tab) with advanced satellite equipment. It tells you what’s going on and what’s going to happen with the sun so you can be prepared. For example, if necessary, the power company can temporarily cut power to avoid conducting power surges from the CME. As the solar cycle becomes more active, most solar events become neither harmful nor harmful. However, one day, the event may occur again.

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“It’s not sleepy, but it’s something to be taken seriously,” Misch stressed.

And for those few of us who spend time in space, including astronauts embarking on looming moon expeditions, watching space weather is especially important. It is especially dangerous for astronauts exposed to levels of radiation.Space agency is experimenting with shields(opens in new tab) Especially during long deep space journeys to places like Mars.

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How to prepare for powerful solar storms

Good news: If there is a strong burst of radiation possible, or if any are heading toward us, trusted government agencies such as NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and the National Weather Service will notify us. (Online tabloids about space weather information are best avoided because they warn of apocalyptic solar storms every other week or so🙄.) The occurrence and timing are still unknown,” National Weather Service said. Bureau points out.(opens in new tab)Then escalate to “Warning” or “Alert” as appropriate.

Meteorological Agency Guidance on how to prepare for extreme solar storms(opens in new tab)Reads like a hurricane or earthquake kit, with a focus on backup power.