NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare– as seen in the intense flash on the right– on May 14, 2024. On the ground, especially intense flares can cause currents in power lines, leading to voltage instabilities and power outages.NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory caught these images of the solar flares– as seen in the intense flash on the ideal sides of the images– on May 13 and May 14, 2024. The classification system consists of 5 categories: A-Class: the weakest flares, which have little to no impact on Earth.B-Class: a bit more powerful, however still usually inconsequential in terms of space weather.C-Class: more powerful yet, with some flares capable of causing small radio blackouts in polar regions.M-Class: moderate flares that can trigger quick radio blackouts that affect Earths polar regions and minor radiation storms.X-Class: the strongest flares, which can activate planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.Understanding and predicting solar flare activity is essential for mitigating their possible interruptions, especially as our dependence on technology susceptible to area weather increases.
