NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this picture of a solar flare– as seen in the intense flash at the Suns lower center– on October 28, 2021. The image reveals a subset of severe ultraviolet light that highlights the very hot product in flares and which is colorized here in teal. Credit: NASA/SDO
The Sun produced a considerable solar flare peaking at 11:35 a.m. EDT on October 28, 2021. NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory, which views the Sun continuously, caught an image of the occasion.
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Damaging radiation from a flare can not pass through Earths atmosphere to physically affect people on the ground, however– when intense enough– they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
This flare is classified as an X1-class flare.
X.
> > 10 − 4.
M.
10 − 5– 10 − 4.
X-class signifies the most extreme flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. An X2 is two times as extreme as an X1, an X3 is 3 times as intense, etc. Flares that are categorized X10 or more powerful are considered unusually intense.
The classification system for solar flares utilizes the letters A, B, M, c or x, according to the peak flux in watts per square meter (W/m2) of X-rays with wavelengths 100 to 800 picometres (1 to 8 ångströms), as measured by the GOES spacecraft at the Sun-Earth range from the Sun of 2.7 × 1017 km.
An X2 flare is twice the strength of an X1 flare, an X3 flare is three times as effective as an X1, and only 50% more effective than an X2. X-class flares with a peak flux that goes beyond 10 − 3 W/m2 may be kept in mind with a mathematical suffix equal to or higher than 10.
C.
10 − 6– 10 − 5.
A.
< < 10 − 7.
B.
10 − 7-- 10 − 6.
Classification
Approximate peak flux variety at 100-- 800 picometer( watts/square meter).
NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this image of a solar flare-- as seen in the bright flash at the Suns lower center-- on October 28, 2021. The image shows a subset of severe ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot product in flares and which is colorized here in teal. An X2 flare is two times the strength of an X1 flare, an X3 flare is 3 times as powerful as an X1, and just 50% more powerful than an X2. X-class flares with a peak flux that exceeds 10 − 3 W/m2 may be noted with a mathematical suffix equal to or higher than 10.