23rd February, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
● A major solar flare erupted from the Sun, causing a temporary radio blackout across the Western United States. ● This disruption highlights the potential impact of solar activity on our communication systems.
● Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation from the Sun's surface. ● They occur when magnetic energy stored in sunspots is suddenly released. ● Flares are classified by strength: X-class flares are the strongest, followed by M-class, C-class, and smaller flares.
● Flare Classification: (State the X, M, or C classification of the flare) ● Date and Time: (Date and time it occurred) ● Impact: Radio blackout over the Western US
● Intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from a flare ionizes Earth's upper atmosphere. ● This disrupts the layer that reflects radio waves used for communication. ● The impact is strongest on the sunlit side of Earth at the time of the flare.
● Radio blackouts can affect communication for: ◉ Amateur radio operator ◉ Emergency responder ◉ Aviation ● More severe flares could disrupt satellite systems and power grids.