We haven’t known about a solar flare of this power for years. Scientists surprised [WIDEO]

We haven’t seen such a huge burst of energy since 2017 – c The strongest solar flare in this cycle on December 14. The event was classified as X2.8.

The strongest solar flare in years

Solar flares are divided into three classes: the weakest C, the medium M and the highest X. The number indicates more precise data about the flare. The X2.8 is therefore a relatively strong burst of energy, but it is still a long way from breaking records. The largest ones are several or even a dozen times stronger. In 2003, a flare with a power estimated at even X45 was recorded – we read in . However, this was calculated after the fact, because the measuring devices were only able to register power up to X28. Nevertheless, the government agency NOAA Space Water reports that the solar flare on December 14 was one of the strongest ever observed.

Solar flares are usually accompanied by coronal mass ejections, shooting solar plasma into space at a speed of millions of kilometers per hour (2,100 km/s). This time was no different, as the US Air Force had already reported a burst of radio frequency solar energy that could reach speeds of up to 7.5 million km/h (2.1 thousand km/s). Such events can be a source of an electromagnetic storm. This, in turn, may result in interruptions in the reception of the radio signal and the appearance of strong signals. Disturbances of the radio signal were recorded already on Thursday – It is still too early to determine the power of the coronal mass ejection, but it can be expected that within a few days we will be able to observe the aurora borealis, which have been clearly visible even in Poland in recent months.

Surprising solar activity

For several months now, scientists have been surprisingly noticing that (previously it was estimated that this would happen in 2025). This is indicated, among others, by: an unusual, increasing number of sunspots, more frequent magnetic storms, and a greater number of solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

changes its activity within an average of 11-year cycles, although these can be shorter, lasting 8 years, or longer, lasting up to 14 years. In each of them, solar activity increases for several years, reaching a maximum, and then decreases for several years until it reaches a minimum. During this time, the north and south magnetic poles change places. It is not clear what the reason for solar cycles occurs. However, scientists can calculate approximately when subsequent periods of solar activity begin and end.