Posted on 05/18/2013 1:54:52 PM PDT by blam
This Week's Super Active Sun Could Disrupt Cell Phone, Radio, And GPS Communications
Samantha-Rae Tuthill, AccuWeather.com
May 18, 2013, 2:40 PM
Solar Flares NASA
This week has seen the most active solar flares in this sun cycle, which began in 2008 and will last until 2019.
Four high-strength flares occurred May 13 into May 14.
"Basically, this is as busy as the Sun has been in a 24-36 hour period since 2004," said AccuWeather.com Astronomer Mark Paquette.
Paquette used information researched by Daniel Vogler, co-director of the AccuWeather Astronomy Facebook page.
Using data dating back to 1992, Paquette found only one other instance with as much sunspot activity in such a short amount of time.
"Sunspot AR649, July 15-17, 2004, unleashed five X[-strength] flares," he said. "So what we are witnessing with sunspot AR1748 is pretty rare."
Solar flares are measured on a scale of intensity ranging from A, B, M, C to X. The X-strength flares, the level the recent solar activity has been categorized as, are the highest strength.
AccuWeather astronomer Hunter Outten said that these impressive flares have been responsible for disrupting a variety of satellite communications, even causing some blackouts that have lasted from nine to 25 minutes. Cell phones, radios and GPS devices can all be affected by solar flare radiation.
The flares earlier this week have not been Earth directed, so only fringe affects have been making their way to the planet. When a solar flare occurs, radiation effects can be felt on Earth in as little as an hour with disruptions to communication technology. Earth-directed flares can cause charged particles in the atmosphere that can create auroras 24 to 36 hours after the blast.
Outten said that as the Earth revolves around the Sun it could move into a
(Excerpt) Read more at accuweather.com ...
Only if you miss the left turn at Albuquerque.
A lag between event and effect? You've got me curious, and I'll check it out. The phenomenon is very well documented at this point. The 11-year cycles (within large cycles, I think) have been followed since the 18th century.
Egad! Global warming causes sun activity? We’re all gonna die!
The converse....
The Sun's magnetic field is in a long term decline mode.....
resulting in a decline in sunspot formation....
Thus global cooling....
(PhysOrg.com) — Sunspot formation is triggered by a magnetic field, which scientists say is steadily declining. They predict that by 2016 there may be no remaining sunspots, and the sun may stay spotless for several decades. The last time the sunspots disappeared altogether was in the 17th and 18th century, and coincided with a lengthy cool period on the planet known as the Little Ice Age.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news203746768.html#jCp
Thank you very much for posting that chart. I sure hope that NOAA didn’t plot that red line!
It reminds me of a Far Side cartoon IIRC where the scientist is explaining a complex equation and jumps to the end of the chalk board while saying “and then something happens”...
If you look at the chart on post 23 you can see part of the picture. But if you search for solar cycles you can find longer term examples that show how the peaks of the “highs” have decreased over time. I imagine this cycle will peak between 50 and 75 or so. And also be shorter than the last one.
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