NASA reported that the sun had emitted a solar flare classified as an X1.6 class flare. It is considered significant due to its intensity, which peaked on Sept. 10 at 1:48 EDT, and could cause a disturbance to communications systems.
"Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground," NASA explains. "However – when intense enough – they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel."
The most intense level of flares is classified as X-class, such as the one observed. The number that follows – in this case, 1.6 – further tells about its intensity. As explained by NASA, an X2 flare is two times as powerful as an X1, while an X3's has three times X1's strength.
"Flares are our solar system's largest explosive events," the agency's website explains. "They are seen as bright areas on the sun and they can last from minutes to hours."
According to the NOAA's National Weather Prediction Center, a minor solar flare was detected on Sept. 9 causing a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is expected to become a moderate geomagnetic storm on Sept. 12. Due to the strong solar flare on Sept. 10, combined with the previous one, a strong geomagnetic storm is anticipated for Sept. 13, with minor storms to continue until the 14th. Furthermore, a minor solar radiation storm may linger for several days.
But while a solar flare is "an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots," it also causes the area of the Aurora Borealis to expand – that is, the magnificent Northern Lights can be seen at lower latitudes.
"Keep in mind that the forecast periods listed are in Universal Time so aurora watchers in the northern U.S. should be looking for possible activity both Thursday and Friday nights. Stay tuned for updates," the SWPC says.
