NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory keeps a close, constant watch over the sun, capturing the moment an X1.8-class solar flare was emitted Dec. 19.
As this type of solar flare is one of the most powerful, it triggered strong radio blackouts in various parts of the globe, like the South Pacific and Australia, most especially when it peaked. The solar flare happened in a part of the sun known as Action Region 2242 and could signal the occurrence of more storms in the sunspot region.
Sun storms had been active all week, making the solar flare a fitting end. In AR 2241, two N-class flares were fired: an M-8.7 flare on Dec. 16 and an M6.9-class on Dec. 18.
Solar flares are triggered by intense activity in magnetic fields in sunspots.
X-class flares are the most powerful that the sun is capable of unleashing but they are further classified depending on their intensity. The higher a number is (X2 versus X3), the more powerful a solar flare is. Also, X2 solar flares are twice as powerful as X1s while X3s are three times more intense and so on.
M-class flares don't carry the same magnitude as X-class flares, appearing just around a tenth of the size of the most powerful flares but they can still affect the Earth by supercharging northern lights for a more spectacular display.
Solar flares may also be categorized under A, B and C classes.
The reported M-class flares that preceded the X1.8-class flare led to a huge release of solar material (a process called coronal mass ejection). This is expected to cause geomagnetic storms, potentially amplifying northern lights during the weekend after Christmas.
Other powerful solar flares for 2014 include an X3.1 flare on Oct. 24, an X1.6 on Oct. 22, an X1.1 on Oct. 19, an X1.6 on Sept. 10, an X1 on June 11, an X2.2 on June 10, an X1.3 on April 24, an X1 on March 29 and an X4.9-class on Feb. 25.
The sun adheres to a weather cycle in space that lasts for 11 years, complete with peaks and lulls. Currently, it's on Solar Cycle 24. Solar flares will form as long as the sun is shining but they are mostly impossible to predict, which poses dangers for satellite and radio communications. Research has not yielded an exact answer but one study did highlight the importance of understanding coronal mass ejections in improving forecasts.
