No disturbances

Strong solar flare could have consequences on Earth

During a solar flare, a structure with increased radiation erupts from the sun's chromosphere.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

The surface of the sun is currently boiling violently - the US space agency NASA recently observed one of the most powerful solar flares in recent years. According to the authorities, we should feel the consequences of this in the next few days. 

The solar flare of magnitude X3.3 observed by the US space agency NASA on Friday - one of the most violent in recent years - had no major consequences on Earth at the weekend. NASA had originally feared

However, there is no danger for humans: due to the location of the eruption, the solar storm triggered by the flare should not hit the Earth, said astrophysicist Volker Bothmer from the University of Göttingen.

"No danger, no auroras"
 The eruption was located behind the southwestern part of the sun's disk as seen from Earth. Therefore: "No significant danger for us and no auroras," says Bothmer Flares are flashes of light that occur at the eruption site on the sun. They are the first visible signs of a solar storm.

Nevertheless, the solar eruption leaves tiny traces on the earth. This is because positively charged particles (protons) are created, which have a speed of more than 1000 kilometers per second, as Bothmer explains. They move towards us along magnetic field lines that are as curved as the spiral of a spinning lawn sprinkler.

"That's why we are magnetically connected to the west of the sun." The cause of the proton influx is the rapid shock wave created by the solar flare, which then spreads from the sun into space. The solar flare on Friday generated a medium-strong radiation event R3, which could lead to radio failures.

Only minor outages for short-wave radio
According to Spaceweather.com, one effect of the protons is the loss of short-wave radio transmissions in the two polar regions of the earth. The reason: the Earth's magnetic field directs many of the incoming protons to the poles. There they could wipe out radio signals below 30 megahertz.

Approximately every eleven years, in a solar cycle, there are phases of weak and strong activity. Since December 2019, the sun's activity has been increasing again. Approximately every eleven years, in a solar cycle, there are phases of weak and strong activity. The sun is currently approaching a maximum.

According to NASA, when flares and solar flares hit the Earth directly, they can affect radio communications, power grids and navigation signals and pose a danger to spacecraft and astronauts. For example, a spacewalk can even be fatal for astronauts in such conditions.