On December 29, 2024, the Sun gave us a show of unprecedented strength, with a class X1.1 solar flareone of the most intense in recent years. This event, which occurred in the northwestern region of the Sun facing Earth, it seems to have triggered intense solar activity, causing a radio blackout in various parts of the planet. Solar flares are intense explosions of electromagnetic radiation that originate from sunspots, colder regions with a particularly intense magnetic field on the surface of the Sun. Their classification goes from class A (the least intense) to class X (the most powerful).
Solar flares can have a significant impact on Earth. Charged particles emitted during these events can interfere with radio communications, GPS systems and electrical grids. Furthermore, they can cause spectacular northern and southern lightscaused by the interaction of solar particles with the Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists are still busy analyzing the recorded data to determine whether the solar flare on Dec. 29 was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs are huge bubbles of plasma and magnetic field that are ejected from the solar corona. If directed towards Earth, they can trigger more intense and prolonged geomagnetic storms than flares alone.
2024 has proven to be a particularly active year for the Sun. The X1.1-class flare on December 29 was not the most powerful of the year. In fact, the record goes to a flare of class X9, recorded last October 3, which ranks among the most intense in recent decades.
The X1.1-class solar flare was observed thanks to the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16) meteorological satellite of NOAA. This satellite, equipped with cutting-edge instruments, is able to constantly monitor solar activity and provide valuable data to predict space events and mitigate their effects on Earth.
Solar activity follows a cycle of approximately 11 yearsduring which periods of maximum and minimum activity alternate. Currently, the Sun is exiting a period of minimal activity and heading towards a new solar maximumexpected for the next few years. This means we can expect increased solar activity and events such as flares and coronal mass ejections.
Credits ImmagineNoaa/Swpc/Goes-16
