3 X class solar flares in a little over 24 hours

Sunspot 2087 has shot out 3 X class solar flares between yesterday and today. An impulsive X 2.2 followed by a long duration X 1.5 occurred back to back yesterday. Today, this same flare spit out an M 3.0 followed by an X 1.0 flare, also back to back. The X 1.5 from yesterday seems to have released a CME with a bit of an earth directed component (probably not much of one though). The X 1.0 seems to have released a CME as well. It's too early to tell if that one will be at all earth directed. Luckily, the sunspot is just coming into view on the western limb of the sun. However, this means in the days ahead, this potent sunspot will start facing earth.

OK thanks, BUT what dose all this mean?


:tinfoil:

It means that if we get more large flares from this sunspot in the coming days that produce large coronal mass ejections, we could get radio blackouts, radiation risks for astronauts and people on airplanes, and possibly power outages in the higher latitudes. The fact that this sunspot is spitting out large flares in pairs means that if it produces cme's, the cme's may combine on the way to earth increasing their potential damage. Back to back X class flares aimed at earth, that produce cme's that combine can potentially be powerful enough to knock out power to parts of Canada, Alaska, and the northern most lower 48 states. I don't think this flare will cause another Carrington Event, but I could see it causing some blackouts in the highest latitudes in a worse case scenario. The sunspot could potentially cause some damage, or it could break apart before it directly faces earth, in which case nothing would happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

Well said. Just a small reminder that Mother Nature is in charge...

Thanks!



:tinfoil:

Hey AZ...I'm thinking that your helmet should extend to cover your whole person as well...

dc38 said:

Hey AZ...I'm thinking that your helmet should extend to cover your whole person as well...

Click to expand...

No need to. Cause I'm wearing my suit ...





... under it. ...



:tinfoil:

I actually laughed out loud