The Sun Just Released Its Strongest Magnetic Storm in 7 Years

The sun has just unleashed its strongest solar flare of cycle 25, causing a radio communications blackout in some areas of Earth.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) recorded a firestorm (magnetic storm) that occurred on October 1 - the strongest of cycle 25, and also the strongest since 2017.

The firestorm is level X9.0. On the firestorm scale, class X is the strongest, the next level is M, and the weakest are C, B, A respectively, in which each previous class is at least 10 times stronger than the next class. In each class, the intensity is further classified from 1 to 9 in increasing strength.

The moment a flare erupts from the Sun. (Photo: NASA/SDO/AIA).

The magnetic storm is believed to have been unleashed by the sunspot AR3842 , which caused a radio blackout and communications disruption on the day side of Earth at the time, according to IFL Science on October 5. The sunspot is heading towards Earth and is emitting coronal mass ejections towards the planet where humans live.

This geomagnetic storm phenomenon affects communication systems, satellites and electrical infrastructure, but experts say "it can still be controlled because we know the storm is coming and we will know what to do". On the positive side, when the geomagnetic storm is strong, interesting auroras will appear.

Solar flares, also known as magnetic storms , are huge releases of energy associated with sunspots. Sunspots are darker because they are cooler than the surrounding areas, but they have much stronger magnetic fields. Their magnetic fields can be about 2,500 times stronger than Earth's, and significantly stronger than the rest of the Sun.

Magnetic storms are also associated with coronal mass ejections, when electrically charged plasma from the Sun is launched at high speeds into interplanetary space. This plasma can affect satellites and electrical infrastructure on Earth, as well as create brilliant auroras at high latitudes.

Most geomagnetic storms are harmless, although strong ones can disrupt radio transmissions or destroy power lines and other infrastructure. In 2022, a highly active region of the Sun will produce several large flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), revealing that the Sun is 'awakening' from a quiet period in its 11-year activity cycle.