Solar Flare

Solar Flare Latest News

A huge sunspot that is more than 10 times bigger than Earth recently appeared on the surface of the sun, and scientists say it could lead to several strong solar flares in the coming weeks.

About Solar Flare

• A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.
• A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, lasting several minutes to hours.
• Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled. 
• Like a rubber band that snaps when it is twisted too far, the tangled magnetic fields release energy when they snap. 
• The energy emitted by a solar flare is more than a million times greater than the energy from a volcanic eruption on Earth.
• Flares are our solar system’s largest explosive events. 
• In a matter of just a few minutes, they heat the material to many millions of degrees and produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, including from radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays.
• Although solar flares can be visible in white light, they are often more readily noticed via their bright X-ray and ultraviolet emissions. 
• The biggest flares occur in association with large sunspots that have sharp magnetic gradients and large currents, which are the source of the flare energy.
• Solar flares burst forth from intense magnetic fields in the vicinity of active regions on the Sun and are most common during times of peak solar activity. 
• Coronal mass ejections often accompany solar flares, though scientists are still trying to determine exactly how the two phenomena are related. 
• Effect of Solar Flare on Earth:
  • The intense radiation emitted during a solar flare can affect satellite communications, disrupt radio signals, and even pose a risk to astronauts in space.
  • Additionally, the increased solar radiation can lead to geomagnetic storms, which may impact power grids and cause auroras (northern and southern lights) at lower latitudes.

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What are Sunspots?

• Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun. 
• They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface. 
• Why are sunspots relatively cool? 
  • It’s because they form in areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong.
  • These magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from reaching the surface.

Source: NDTV