The M9.7-class solar flare from AR3697 was powerful enough to generate the strongest radiation storm since 2017, according to NOAA 's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
Another Strong Solar Flare Soon after the flare, NASA reported another significant solar event.
ET, the Sun emitted a strong solar flare, which was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO).
Within each class, numerical values (from 1 to 10 and beyond for X-class flares) indicate a flare’s relative strength.
Thus, an M-class flare is 10 times weaker than an X-class flare but 10 times stronger than a C-class flare.
Sunspot AR3697 Unleashes Powerful Solar Flare, Triggering Major Radiation Storm Photo : Times Now
The Sun spot region known as AR3697 continues to gain attention as it prepares to make another exit from the Sun's visible disk. Formerly designated AR3664, this Sunspot has been a strong source of solar activity, including the historic geomagnetic storm that caused spectacular global auroras in May. On June 8, Sunspot AR3697 produced an M9.7-class solar flare , one of the most intense flares observed in recent years.
The M9.7-class solar flare from AR3697 was powerful enough to generate the strongest radiation storm since 2017, according to NOAA 's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The event was categorised as strong (S3) on NOAA's Space Weather Scale for Solar Radiation Storms. This level of radiation storm can have significant effects on satellite operations and space launch missions, and can also disrupt shortwave radio communications. The M9.7-class flare from AR3697 triggered an extensive radio blackout in the northern polar region, highlighting the potential risks such solar events pose to modern technology and communication systems.
Another Strong Solar Flare Soon after the flare, NASA reported another significant solar event. On Monday, June 10, at 7:08 a.m. ET, the Sun emitted a strong solar flare, which was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The SDO constantly monitors the Sun, providing critical data and imagery that help scientists understand and predict solar activity.
Solar flares like the ones produced by AR3697 are significant not only for their immediate effects but also for their role in the broader context of space weather. These flares result from the release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun's atmosphere. When this energy is released, it can accelerate particles to nearly the speed of light, producing bursts of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum.
These flares are classified into lettered groups—X, M, C, B, and A—based on their size, with X-class flares being the most powerful. Within each class, numerical values (from 1 to 10 and beyond for X-class flares) indicate a flare’s relative strength. Thus, an M-class flare is 10 times weaker than an X-class flare but 10 times stronger than a C-class flare.
