The most powerful solar flare since 2017 disrupted shortwave radio communications in South and North America. The record’s release took place on December 14, according to reports portal Spaceweather.com.
Radio amateurs on two continents noticed loss of signal on all frequencies below 30 MHz for more than half an hour after the event.
According to astronomical observations, the last eruption belongs to class X, the strongest category of solar activity. Its magnitude was 2.8, making this event the largest of its kind during the current 25th solar cycle.
The solar flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which sent a massive cloud of plasma into space at speeds of up to 2,100 kilometers per second. Some of this material is likely to reach Earth, according to the US Air Force.
CMEs can cause magnetic storms and intensify auroras. Additionally, a plasma cloud can disrupt the signals of communications satellites and GPS systems.
According to experts, a magnetic storm is expected on Earth due to the last solar eruption on December 16.
Previous scientists I learnedIt is stated that solar flares can disrupt train traffic and even cause accidents.