Sunspot AR 2371 emits a major solar flair, causing disruption to shortwave radio signals over North America.

On Monday 22 June 2015 at about 6.25 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a sunspot labeled AR 2371 (Active Region 2371) emit an M6.5 Solar Flare (flare emitting X-rays with an energy of more than 0.00065 Watts per meter squared). The X-ray and ultraviolet emissions from this flare caused a temporary blackout of short-wave radio signals over parts of North America and in the polar regions. The flare also caused the release of a coronal mass ejection (stream of plasma) that is traveling directly towards us and is predicted to  reach the Earth on Wednesday 24 June. This is likely to produce some spectacular auroras in the polar regions, and possibly at lower latitudes, but not to cause any serious harm.

Blackout map showing areas suffering disruption to shortwave radio signals caused by the 24 June 2015 solar flare. Areas coloured red suffered the worst disruption, while areas coloured black were unaffected. Space Weather.

Sunspots are magnetic storms on the face of the Sun. These inhibit convection currents in the Sun's photosphere, causing localized cooling; the surface of the Sun can drop from its usual 5778 K to as low as 3000 K in a Sunspot, causing them to darken compared to the rest of the Sun (though they are in fact still pretty bright). Since Sunspots are magnetic they have magnetic poles, with positive and negative charges. These can be connected by coronal loops, streams of magnetic flux carrying plasma above the surface of the Sun. This can lead to a short circuit in which a large amount of magnetic energy is released suddenly, producing a brightening we perceive as a Solar Flare.

This in turn can lead to the release of a coronal mass ejection, a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons but with some ionized atoms of heavier elements such as helium or oxygen. This travels out from the Sun, typically taking about two days to reach the Earth's orbit.

Solar Heliospheric Observatory movie of the 24 June 2015 coronal mass ejection. Space Weather.

When these streams of charged particles reach the Earth they can cause magnetic storms. These are usually harmless, with the energy being released in spectacular displays of light near the Earth's poles known as the Aurora Borealis (north) and Aurora Australis (south), but occasionally large events cause problems for electrical systems on Earth, such as the March 1989 event that knocked out electrical distribution networks in Quebec (such distribution networks are now generally better safeguarded against these events).

Aurora displays come in a variety of colours, caused by electrons from the coronal mass ejection striking different atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. This is because the energy of the atoms increases each time it is struck by an electron, but atoms can only absorb so much energy before they must release some, and each atom always releases energy as light (photons) at a specific wavelengths. In the Earth's atmosphere this is effected by altitude, thus Oxygen releases either green or red light and Nitrogen releases either blue or violet light. Typically auroras shimmer as different reactions occur, photographs do not really do them justice.

Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) display spotted over Bundanoon in New South Wales on 22 June 2015. This was caused by an earlier coronal mass ejection produced by a solar flare on 20 June 2015. David Metcalf/DJM Images.

Gasses release light at specific wavelengths in response to other stimuli besides coronal mass ejections. Thus the blue colour of the daytime sky is the colour of Nitrogen in the lower atmosphere reacting to the (steady) energy input from sunlight, whereas the red colour of sunrises and sunsets is the colour of oxygen higher in the atmosphere reacting to the same; we see this at dawn and dusk because the sun is no longer in line of sight with the lower atmosphere. Neon lights are red because Neon gas releases red light in response to electrical charge, and Sodium lights orange for the same reason. Molecules made up of more than one sort of atom, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Water (H₂O) or Methane (CH₄) release light in the infra-red part of the spectrum, which can lead to warming of the atmosphere (the Greenhouse Effect), hence the current concerns about the release of such gasses into the atmosphere by industrial processes, and the effect this might have on our climate.

See also...



Bright aurora displays in both hemispheres following coronal mass ejection on 15 March 2015.
Bright aurora displays were seen in the night skies of both hemispheres in the early morning of Tuesday 17 March 2015...


Large Solar Flair could mean spectacular aurora displays today.
On Wednesday 10 September 2014 at about 5.45 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a sunspot labeled AR 2158 (Active Region 2158), which is currently facing towards the Earth, produce one of the largest Solar Flares so far this year. This has been classed as an X1.6-class flare (flare emitting more than 0.001 W/m² over more than 0.01% of the Earth's...

Sunspot AR 1520 releases a powerful Solar Flare.

On Thursday 12 July 2012 at 4.52 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatorywitnessed a sunspot labeled AR 1520 (Active Region 1520), currently facing towards the Earth, produce one of the largest Solar Flares so far this year. This has been classed as an X1.4-class flare, potentially large enough to cause disruption to communications networks...

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Large Solar Flair could mean spectacular aurora displays today.

On Wednesday 10 September 2014 at about 5.45 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a sunspot labeled AR 2158 (Active Region 2158), which is currently facing towards the Earth, produce one of the largest Solar Flares so far this year. This has been classed as an X1.6-class flare (flare emitting more than 0.001 W/m² over more than 0.01% of the Earth's surface), potentially large enough to cause disruption to communications networks and electricity supplies on Earth. The flare caused the release of a coronal mass ejection (stream of plasma) that is traveling towards us at 1100 km per second, and will reach the Earth on Friday 12 September. This is likely to produce some spectacular auroras in the polar regions, and possibly at lower latitudes, but not to cause any serious harm.

An X1.6 solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun on 10 September 2014. NASA/Solar Dynamic Observatory.

Sunspots are magnetic storms on the face of the Sun. These inhibit convection currents in the Sun's photosphere, causing localized cooling; the surface of the Sun can drop from its usual 5778 K to as low as 3000 K in a Sunspot, causing them to darken compared to the rest of the Sun (though they are in fact still pretty bright). Since Sunspots are magnetic they have magnetic poles, with positive and negative charges. These can be connected by coronal loops, streams of magnetic flux carrying plasma above the surface of the Sun. This can lead to a short circuit in which a large amount of magnetic energy is released suddenly, producing a brightening we perceive as a Solar Flare.

Image of a sunspot captured by the  New Solar Telescope in 2010. Big Bear Solar Observatory/New Jersey Institute of Technology.

This in turn can lead to the release of a coronal mass ejection, a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons but with some ionized atoms of heavier elements such as helium or oxygen. This travels out from the Sun, typically taking about two days to reach the Earth's orbit.

When these streams of charged particles reach the Earth they can cause magnetic storms. These are usually harmless, with the energy being released in spectacular displays of light near the Earth's poles known as the Aurora Borealis (north) and Aurora Australis (south), but occasionally large events cause problems for electrical systems on Earth, such as the March 1989 event that knocked out electrical distribution networks in Quebec (such distribution networks are now generally better safeguarded against these events).

A coronal mass ejection imaged on 31 August 2012. NASA/STEREO-B/Goddard Space Flight Center.

Aurora displays come in a variety of colours, caused by electrons from the coronal mass ejection striking different atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. This is because the energy of the atoms increases each time it is struck by an electron, but atoms can only absorb so much energy before they must release some, and each atom always releases energy as light (photons) at a specific wavelengths. In the Earth's atmosphere this is effected by altitude, thus Oxygen releases either green or red light and Nitrogen releases either blue or violet light. Typically auroras shimmer as different reactions occur, photographs do not really do them justice.

An Aurora Borealis display over Chena Lake, Alaska in September 2009. Bud Kuenzli.

Gasses release light at specific wavelengths in response to other stimuli besides coronal mass ejections. Thus the blue colour of the daytime sky is the colour of Nitrogen in the lower atmosphere reacting to the (steady) energy input from sunlight, whereas the red colour of sunrises and sunsets is the colour of oxygen higher in the atmosphere reacting to the same; we see this at dawn and dusk because the sun is no longer in line of sight with the lower atmosphere. Neon lights are red because Neon gas releases red light in response to electrical charge, and Sodium lights orange for the same reason. Molecules made up of more than one sort of atom, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Water (H₂O) or Methane (CH₄) release light in the infra-red part of the spectrum, which can lead to warming of the atmosphere (the Greenhouse Effect), hence the current concerns about the release of such gasses into the atmosphere by industrial processes, and the effect this might have on our climate.

See also...

 Sunspot AR 1520 releases a powerful Solar Flare.

On Thursday 12 July 2012 at 4.52 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a sunspot labeled AR 1520 (Active Region 1520), currently facing towards the Earth, produce one of the largest Solar Flares so far this year. This has been classed as an X1.4-class flare, potentially large enough to cause disruption to communications networks and electricity supplies on Earth, though...

 Two solar flares coming our way.

At midnight on Tuesday 6/Wednesday 7 March 2012, GMT, the Sun emitted the largest solar flare since 9 August 2011; the second largest since its current last solar minimum in 2007 (solar activity increases and drops in an eleven years cycle). The flare was classified as an...

 Solar storm baths Earth in protons.

At about 4.00 am GMT on Monday 23 January 2012 a massive solar flare was observed on the sun, pointing more-or-less directly our way. An hour later radiation from the flare, a stream electrons, followed by a wave of protons (hydrogen ions) moving at 41.6...

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Sunspot AR 1520 releases a powerful Solar Flare.

On Thursday 12 July 2012 at 4.52 pm GMT, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a sunspot labeled AR 1520 (Active Region 1520), currently facing towards the Earth, produce one of the largest Solar Flares so far this year. This has been classed as an X1.4-class flare, potentially large enough to cause disruption to communications networks and electricity supplies on Earth, though in this case highly unlikely to do so. The flare caused the release of a coronal mass ejection (stream of plasma) that is traveling towards us at 1400 km per second, and will reach the Earth on Saturday 14 July, at about 5.00 am, GMT. This is likely to produce some spectacular auroras in the polar regions, but not to cause any serious harm.

An X1.4 class flare erupted from the center of the sun, peaking on 12 July 2012 at 4.52 GMT. It erupted from Active Region 1520 which rotated into view on July 6. NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly.

Sunspots are magnetic storms on the face of the Sun. These inhibit convection currents in the Sun's photosphere, causing localized cooling; the surface of the Sun can drop from its usual 5778 K to as low as 3000 K in a Sunspot, causing them to darken compared to the rest of the Sun (though they are in fact still pretty bright). Since Sunspots are magnetic they have magnetic poles, with positive and negative charges. These can be connected by coronal loops, streams of magnetic flux carrying plasma above the surface of the Sun. This can lead to a short circuit in which a large amount of magnetic energy is released suddenly, producing a brightening we perceive as a Solar Flare.

Image of coronal loops over the eastern limb of the Sun, taken on 29 June 1999 around 2.00 am, GMT. NASA/Transition Region and Coronal Explorer.

This in turn can lead to the release of a coronal mass ejection, a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons but with some ionized atoms of heavier elements such as helium or oxygen. This travels out from the Sun, typically taking about two days to reach the Earth's orbit.

A coronal mass ejection breaking away from the Sun. Universe Today/JAXA/Hinode.

When these streams of charged particles reach the Earth they can cause magnetic storms. These are usually harmless, with the energy being released in spectacular displays of light near the Earth's poles known as the Aurora Borealis (north) and Aurora Australis (south), but occasionally large events cause problems for electrical systems on Earth, such as the March 1989 event that knocked out electrical distribution networks in Quebec (such distribution networks are now generally better safeguarded against these events).

An Aurora Borealis display over Sommarøya in Norway in January 2011. Thilo Bubek/National Geographic.

Aurora displays come in a variety of colours, caused by electrons from the coronal mass ejection striking different atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. This is because the energy of the atoms increases each time it is struck by an electron, but atoms can only absorb so much energy before they must release some, and each atom always releases energy as light (photons) at a specific wavelengths. In the Earth's atmosphere this is effected by altitude, thus Oxygen releases either green or red light and Nitrogen releases either blue or violet light. Typically auroras shimmer as different reactions occur, photographs do not really do them justice.

Gasses release light at specific wavelengths in response to other stimuli besides coronal mass ejections. Thus the blue colour of the daytime sky is the colour of Nitrogen in the lower atmosphere reacting to the (steady) energy input from sunlight, whereas the red colour of sunrises and sunsets is the colour of oxygen higher in the atmosphere reacting to the same; we see this at dawn and dusk because the sun is no longer in line of sight with the lower atmosphere. Neon lights are red because Neon gas releases red light in response to electrical charge, and Sodium lights orange for the same reason. Molecules made up of more than one sort of atom, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Water (H₂O) or Methane (CH₄) release light in the infra-red part of the spectrum, which can lead to warming of the atmosphere (the Greenhouse Effect), hence the current concerns about the release of such gasses into the atmosphere by industrial processes, and the effect this might have on our climate.

The colours of a sunset are caused by our being able to see the upper atmosphere, once the Sun is out of line of sight with the lower atmosphere. Joe Bauwens.

See also The Earth reaches its aphelion, Solar flare may hit Earth on 4 July 2012, NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory observes the transit of Venus, Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) survives a close encounter with the sun and Two solar flares coming our way.

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Solar flare may hit Earth on 4 July 2012.

On Monday 2 July 2012 NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory witnessed a large Solar Flare issuing from the AR1515 Sunspot, in the direction of Earth. It is thought likely that this will reach us on 4 July 2012. The flare is currently classed as a Class M Flare, likely to cause Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis displays (Northern and Southern Lights), but unlikely to cause significant disruption to communication or electricity distribution networks.

Solar Dynamics Observatory footage of the AR1515 Solar Flare. NASA.

Sunspots are the result of intense magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun, which inhibit the convection currents in the photosphere, causing a localized cooling. This can lead to mass ejections of charged particles (i.e. Solar Flares) from the Sun's corona. These streams of charged particles interact with the magnetic fields of any planets in their path, releasing energy as photons (light) and producing spectacular displays near the magnetic poles (auroras). Particularly large Solar Flares can cause damage to electronic systems on satellites, and occasionally even on the ground. 

See also NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory observes the transit of Venus, Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) survives a close encounter with the Sun, Two solar flares coming our way, Solar storm baths Earth in protons and Comet seen falling into the Sun. 

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