Key Takeaways
1. The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of solar activity, reaching a peak known as solar maximum.
2. In November, the Sun emitted four solar flares and four coronal mass ejections (CMEs), three of which hit Earth.
3. The most powerful CME triggered a strong geomagnetic storm that lasted six hours, causing significant disruptions, including a severe radio blackout.
4. The radio blackout affected parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia for about 30 minutes to an hour.
5. The geomagnetic storm led to a Ground Level Enhancement (GLE), providing valuable radiation data for European Space Agency (ESA) missions, but did not pose direct biological threats to humans.
The Sun goes through a cycle of solar activity that lasts about 11 years. At the end of this cycle, it becomes very active before it calms down again. This peak activity phase is known as the solar maximum, which our Sun reached earlier this year.
Effects in November
In November, we witnessed the consequences of this increased solar activity. The Sun emitted four solar flares and four coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from NOAA Active Region 14274 within just a few days. Out of these, three CMEs made contact with Earth, with the third being the most powerful. It was preceded by an X-class solar flare and was estimated to travel at an initial speed of about 1500 km/s. When it hit Earth, this CME triggered a strong geomagnetic storm that lasted for six hours before settling down to moderate levels.
Disruptions on Earth
This geomagnetic storm caused significant disruptions on our planet. The regions that were directly facing the Sun experienced a severe radio blackout, lasting around 30 minutes to an hour. This blackout affected parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia.
A Notable Ground Level Enhancement
One fascinating aspect of the geomagnetic storm was the occurrence of a Ground Level Enhancement (GLE). GLEs happen when charged solar particles break through the Earth’s magnetic shield, and they can be detected by sensors on the Earth’s surface.
Fortunately, the storm didn’t pose any direct biological threats to humans on the planet. Its effects on crucial infrastructure were also minimal. Nonetheless, the event provided valuable radiation data for several European Space Agency (ESA) missions.
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