Why in news?
- The X1.2 flare erupted from sunspot AR3256 near the southwestern limb of the star in our Solar System.
- It led to a strong shortwave radio blackout in south-east Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
Key facts about Solar Flare
- What is it? Solar storms are magnetic plasma ejected at great speed from the solar surface.
- They occur during the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots (‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere), and can last for a few minutes or hours.
- There are 4 classes of solar flares – B, C, M, and X and these are classified on a logarithmic scale similar to the Richter scale.
- The class denotes the strength of the flare and the number that comes after it signifies their strength at a finer scale.
- Each class is therefore divided into 9 subdivisions. For example, X1 to X9.
What are the impacts of Solar Flares?
- Solar flares can impact radio communications, electric power grids, and navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
- X-class flares can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.
Q1) What is Magnetic energy?
Magnetic energy is the energy associated with a magnetic field. It is generated due to electric charges in motion. The Magnetic fields are generated by permanent magnets, electromagnets, and changing electric fields.
Source: Powerful ‘X-class’ solar flare slams Earth, causes radio blackouts. There could be more.
Last updated on June, 2025
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