Yesterday, the Mexico Space Weather Service, a division of the Institute of Geophysics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), reported a new solar flare. The active region AR3664 produced a category X8.79 solar flare at 10:51 a.m. Mexico City time, making it the most powerful event of the current cycle. This flare is expected to have effects on Earth’s ionosphere.
Additionally, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that this region was responsible for the strongest geomagnetic storm in nearly a decade, classified as an X8.7 event. NOAA highlighted that eruptions of this magnitude are rare on the scale used to measure solar activity, with X indicating the most intense events and numbers specifying their strength.
Although this significant event has occurred, UNAM noted that sunspot region 3664 continues to be active, which is 17 times larger than Earth. Sunspots are colder areas on the sun’s surface that form in regions with strong magnetic fields, preventing some of its heat from reaching the surface.
The Mexico Space Weather Service and NOAA are closely monitoring this solar activity as a reminder of how powerful and impactful the sun can be on our planet. Being prepared for such events is crucial for understanding and managing their effects on Earth’s atmosphere and technology.
