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Our Sun is set to become even more active as it reaches the peak of its 11-year cycle, which experts say means it will emit more volatile solar flares and CMEs. Solar flares are considered to be one of the most powerful explosive events in our solar system, and NASA recently warned that massive solar flares are likely to become more frequent as we approach solar maximum, which is in 2025.
According to scientists, the Sun is going through solar cycle 25, which means that the activity of the Sun will continue to increase until it reaches its maximum level during the solar cycle. Solar cycle 25 started on December 25th.
NASA revealed details of the solar flare in its latest blog. “Solar events will continue to increase as we approach solar maximum in 2025, and our lives and technology on Earth, as well as satellites and astronauts in space,” said a NASA blog post.
Frequent solar storms release coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth. CMEs lead to geomagnetic storms on Earth and affect all electrical infrastructure there. NASA’s blog also revealed that these storms can impact everything from the internet to energy, and are also capable of destroying satellites.
“With increased activity comes an increase in space weather phenomena, including solar flares and solar flares, which can affect radio communications, power grids and navigation signals, as well as pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts,” NASA said.
The space agency also shared a video that shows many CMEs following a recent solar flare. Watch here:
Huge solar eruptions called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) will likely become more frequent as we approach the peak of the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle – called solar maximum – in 2025.
This video shows several CMEs soon after the last solar maximum.https://t.co/SWedOm7Uh9 pic.twitter.com/vf3MsSq0nz
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) July 30, 2022
Remarkably, every 11 years a new solar cycle begins and dies down at the end. During this time, the Sun’s nature changes to active and stormy, and then becomes relatively calm again, so a new solar cycle begins.
How do solar flares affect Earth?
Solar flares only affect Earth when they occur on the side of the Sun facing Earth. “Earth’s atmosphere absorbs most of the intense solar radiation, so eruptions are not directly harmful to people on earth. However, radiation from the eruption could be harmful to astronauts outside the Earth’s atmosphere and could affect the technology we rely on. ” said NASA.
