On Thursday, as the sun starts to enter its new cycle, activities on its surface are picking up pace as the bright star emitted a major flare. Sunspot AR2929 erupted, producing a powerful M5.5-class solar flare, which has been recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory in an extreme ultraviolet flash. According to spaceweather.com, during the flare, a pulse of X-rays ionised the top of Earth’s atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout around the Indian Ocean.
Solar flares usually take place in active regions, which are areas on the Sun marked by the presence of strong magnetic fields, typically associated with sunspot groups. As these magnetic fields evolve, they can reach a point of instability and release energy in a variety of forms. During the period of the solar flare, aviators, mariners and ham radio operators in the area may have noticed unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz.
