New Zealand Local Weather Forum

Climate and Science => Space, Science and Nature => Topic started by: Mark on July 03, 2012, 04:37:23 PM

Title: Powerful M-Class flare ejected from the Sun – July 2, 2012
Post by: Mark on July 03, 2012, 04:37:23 PM
July 2, 2012 – SPACE - ALMOST X-FLARE: Big sunspot AR1515 erupted on July 2nd at 10:52 UT, producing an M5.6-class solar flare that almost crossed the threshold into X-territory. A pulse of x-rays and UV radiation from the flare illuminated Earth’s upper atmosphere, producing waves of ionization over Europe. Such waves alter the propagation of low-frequency radio transmissions. The eruption also hurled a CME into space, but not directly toward Earth. The south-traveling cloud could deliver a glancing blow to our planet’s magnetosphere on July 4th or 5th. –Space Weather