Major solar flare reaching X2.2 erupted from southeastern limb
Image credit: NASA SDO AIA 304 @ 11:41 UTC
An impulsive solar flare reaching X2.2 at its peak time erupted on June 10, 2014, generating R3 (Strong) radio blackout. The event started at 11:36, peaked at 11:42 and ended at 11:44 UTC. Source was Active Region 2087 located on the southeastern limb.
A large Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is not expected and it should not be Earth directed. Potential Impacts: area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point. Radio – Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour.
A 10cm Radio Burst lasting 3 minutes, with peak flux of 1400 sfu, was associated with the event. A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.
Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01
Serial Number: 100
Issue Time: 2014 Jun 10 1208 UTC
SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1
Begin Time: 2014 Jun 10 1136 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Jun 10 1142 UTC
End Time: 2014 Jun 10 1144 UTC
X-ray Class: X2.2
Optical Class: sf
Location: S15E80
NOAA Scale: R3 – Strong
Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point.
Radio – Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour.
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Space Weather Message Code: SUM10R
Serial Number: 619
Issue Time: 2014 Jun 10 1226 UTC
SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2014 Jun 10 1139 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Jun 10 1140 UTC
End Time: 2014 Jun 10 1142 UTC
Duration: 3 minutes
Peak Flux: 1400 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 161 sfu
Description: A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.
***
Image credit: NASA SDO AIA 304 (via Helioviewer)
NOAA SWPC forecasters estimate 45% chance for an M-class, and 15% chance for X-class solar flare in next two days.
Update:
A second major solar flare is currently in progress. The flare reached its peak at 12:52 UTC as X1.5. Read more about it here.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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