His name is AR3315 and this year it became one of the great concerns of scientists. What is it? A huge sunspot discovered last May, four times bigger than Earth, and that is still being analyzed by the community.
In 2023, the Sun released several large eruptions, many of them affecting our planet. Every smear can signify a radiation storm risk.
Why is the stain born? This is an area where the Sun’s magnetic field is particularly active. From here the solar flare is emitted.
As it explains Daisy Dobrijevic for the Space portal, Solar flares occur when magnetic energy builds up in the Sun’s atmosphere, releasing an intense burst of electromagnetic radiation.
The radiation storm is largely repelled by the terrestrial magnetosphere, but there will always be a natural effect, such as that of the northern lights, and another artificial, which are widespread radio blackouts.
Each radiation storm is classified by letters according to size, Class X being the most powerful. Go down to the M class, 10 times smaller than the X, then the C, the B and the A. The latter is the weakest, the one that would affect our planet the least.
Fortunately, sunspot AR3315 did not cause any major inconvenience for Earth, except for a few radio blackouts. issued a high M level rated flare.
However, the National Oceanic Administration warned that there was, at that time, 20% chance to emit a “powerful X-class flare”.
Scientists will remain attentive to the Sun, especially knowing that it is at its maximum activity in a cycle that lasts 11 years. This, friends and friends, is just beginning.