Simultaneous Eruption of Solar Flares

• 02 May 2024

Source: IE

Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) solar dynamics observatory captured a rare celestial event that occurred with four solar flares erupting simultaneously.

• It originated from three sunspots and a large magnetic filament, demonstrating complex magnetic interactions.
• When the sun reaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle known as solar maximum, it exhibits heightened activity.
  • It is known as a sympathetic solar flare, where multiple eruptions occur across the Sun's magnetic field, linked by massive magnetic field loops.
• Sympathetic flares are caused by one eruption triggering others, leading to Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and massive bursts of plasma.
• It is considered rare because most reported sympathetic flares involve only two linked flares, while this one involved four flares erupting in unison making it a super-sympathetic event.
• These types of events have the potential to disrupt power grids, telecommunication networks on Earth, and orbiting satellites, and expose astronauts to dangerous radiation levels.
• This event offers scientists an opportunity to understand the Sun's complex life cycle and magnetic interactions better.
• The sun's magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle, every 11 years the Sun's magnetic field completely flips which means the sun's north and south poles switch places.

Read more: Solar Radiation Management