Significant Solar Flare Expected Today As Scientists Warn The Sun Is Getting Too Active

A foreboding article headline on MSN.com, The Sun Is Way More Active Than It Should Be Before Its Big Solar Peak, won't settle any nerves — for those of you searching for information about today’s expected large solar flare, the result of a so-called “full halo” coronal mass ejection or CME which shot out of the Sun several days ago. Scientists have anticipated the solar energy from that ejection will strike Earth’s atmosphere right around now; at approximately 7am EST / 11am UTC. (To clarify a question from several readers: the mass ejection is plasma, so it takes time to reach us after being ejected by the Sun — the ejections are typically seen from a probe that images the Sun’s surface 24/7 — and this allows space weather scientists to predict them ahead of time, usually by a few days.)

As the chart below shows, taken from the MSN / Newsweek article, the red prediction line has been significantly upstaged by a sharp uptick in the number of observed sunspots — far more than “should” have been seen by this point in Solar Cycle 25, which is the solar cycle we are currently in.

Via MSN.com - chart retrieved 4/14/2022 at 7:16am

Depending on the strength of today’s solar flare and any subsequent CMEs later in the week, radio transmissions, air travel, and even some space & satellite activities could be disrupted.

In 1859, a solar superstorm called the Carrington Event occurred, knocking out telegraph stations, causing fire to early power transmission stations, and grinding train travel to a temporary halt.

If a similarly strong storm were to hit us today, the damage to civilization could be potentially catastrophic.

A so-called X-class solar flare of enough strength could disrupt electricity and communications for days or weeks, causing a mass disruption to our economy, stability, and overall way of life.

Let’s hope this one is mild.

See earlier: Solar Cycle 25's Imminent Possible Geomagnetic Storm Could Rival 1859's "Carrington Event"

—FULCRUM Research