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Second Biggest Flare Of the Solar Cycle |
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UPDATE 03/07/12 2:30pm EST
NASA models using
data from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) have
now provided more information about the two CMEs associated with the two March 6 flares. The first is traveling
faster than 1300 miles per second; the second more than 1100 miles per second. NASA's models predict that the CMEs
will impact both Earth and Mars, as well as pass by several NASA spacecraft – Messenger, Spitzer, and STEREO-B.
The models also predict that the leading edge of the first CME will reach Earth at about 1:25 AM EST on the
morning of March 8 (plus or minus 7 hours). Such a CME could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, causing aurora
at low latitudes, with possible disruption to high frequency radio communication, global positioning systems
(GPS), and power grids.
This movie of the March 6, 2012 X5.4 flare was captured by the Solar Dynamics
Observatory (SDO) in the 171 Angstrom wavelength. One of the most dramatic features is the way the entire surface of
the sun seems to ripple with the force of the eruption. This movement comes from something called EIT waves –
because they were first discovered with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT)
on the Solar Heliospheric Observatory. Since SDO captures images every 12 seconds, it has been able to map
the full evolution of these waves and confirm that they can travel across the full breadth of the sun. The waves
move at over a million miles per hour, zipping from one side of the sun to the other in about an hour. The movie
shows two distinct waves. The first seems to spread in all directions; the second is narrower, moving toward the
southeast. Such waves are associated with, and perhaps trigger, fast coronal mass ejections, so it is likely that
each one is connected to one of the two CMEs that erupted on March 6. Credit: NASA/SDO/AIA
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The sun erupted with one of the largest solar flares of this solar cycle on March 6, 2012 at 7PM EST. This flare
was categorized as an X5.4, making it the second largest flare -- after an X6.9 on August 9, 2011 -- since the
sun’s activity segued into a period of relatively low activity called solar minimum in early 2007. The current
increase in the number of X-class flares is part of the sun’s normal 11-year solar cycle, during which activity on
the sun ramps up to solar maximum, which is expected to peak in late 2013.
About an hour later, at 8:14 PM
ET, March 6, the same region let loose an X1.3 class flare. An X1 is 5 times smaller than an X5 flare.
These X-class flares erupted from an active region named AR 1429 that rotated into view on March 2. Prior to this,
the region had already produced numerous M-class and one X-class flare. The region continues to rotate across the
front of the sun, so the March 6 flare was more Earthward facing than the previous ones. It triggered a temporary
radio blackout on the sunlit side of Earth that interfered with radio navigation and short wave radio.
In
association with these flares, the sun also expelled two significant coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are
travelling faster than 600 miles a second and may arrive at Earth in the next few days. In the meantime, the CME
associated with the X-class flare from March 4 has dumped solar particles and magnetic fields into Earth’s
atmosphere and distorted Earth's magnetic fields, causing a moderate geomagnetic storm, rated a G2 on a scale from
G1 to G5. Such storms happen when the magnetic fields around Earth rapidly change strength and shape. A moderate
storm usually causes aurora and may interfere with high frequency radio transmission near the poles. This storm is
already dwindling, but the Earth may experience another enhancement if the most recent CMEs are directed toward
and impact Earth.
The Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured this movie of the sun's coronal mass ejection (CME)
on the evening of March 6, 2012. The extremely fast and energetic solar particles associated with the solar
flare caused the "noise" at the end of the movie. Credit: SOHO/ESA&NASA
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In addition, last night’s flares have sent solar particles into Earth’s atmosphere, producing a moderate solar
energetic particle event, also called a solar radiation storm. These particles have been detected by NASA’s SOHO
and STEREO spacecraft, and NOAA’s GOES spacecraft. At the time of writing, this storm is rated an S3 on a scale
that goes up to S5. Such storms can interfere with high frequency radio communication.
Besides the August
2011 X-class flare, the last time the sun sent out flares of this magnitude was in 2006. There was an X6.5 on
December 6, 2006 and an X9.0 on December 5, 2006. Like the most recent events, those two flares erupted from the
same region on the sun, which is a common occurrence.
What is a solar flare? What is a coronal mass ejection?
For answers to these and other
space weather questions, please visit the Spaceweather Frequently Asked Questions page.
Karen C. Fox
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, MD
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