You may have read about the solar flare that NASA captured using its Solar Dynamics Observatory on April 4 in our article covering it.
You may have also read that the last time the Sun had a solar flare at that time was on April 19, which is three days before the one on April 20.
Apparently, astronomers have expected the Sun to be this way for a long time.
But according to a recent Space.com report, astronomers have also noted that Solar cycle 25 is well underway and is expected to be more active than the past solar cycle.
Experts predict that this new cycle may be stronger than solar cycle 24, but still not as strong as the average solar cycle.
Solar Cycle Details
According to Space.com's report, the current cycle has been going on for the past two years, and it should peak around 2025. Experts have also noted that the current cycle's intensity is higher than expected, thanks to it beginning around six months earlier than anticipated.
This increased intensity consists of an increased number of sunspots and solar flares, including the one that is said to be the strongest solar flare in almost five years, per CNET's report.
This particular solar flare was strong enough to cause a radio blackout for certain shortwaves, aviation, and other communications centered in Asia. It also happens to be the latest indication that the Sun's current solar cycle is intensifying.
Current trends on the current solar cycle show that the Sun would have 125 sunspots when it ends, which is more than the 115 sunspots recorded at the peak of cycle 24.
However, it is still lower than the 180 sunspots of solar cycle 23, which peaked in March 2000 and was found to be middling in recorded history by astronomers.
Additionally, astronomers predict that Solar cycle 25's peak will likely occur around the same time as the total solar eclipse of April 2024, which should be visible from an arc spanning from Sinaloa in Mexico to Newfoundland in Canada.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon totally overlaps with the Sun, making the latter appear to have a gigantic hole in its center.
Effects of Solar Activity on Earth
As previously mentioned, the strongest solar flare knocked out shortwave, aviation, and other communications in Asia for some time, meaning that solar flares have the ability to interfere with technology here on Earth.
This interference happens because it was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that sent charged particles to Earth that caused disturbances with telecommunication systems in Asia.
CMEs could also cause interference with navigation systems, affect power grids, and blackout entire cities and even regions, per EarthSky.org.
One exceptional solar flare happened in September 1859 and is now known as the Carrington Event. This particular CME was visible to the naked eye as it produced auroras to even Cuba and the Hawaiian Islands, set telegraph wires on fire, and knocked out communications, per Electronic Design.
YouTuber Physics Girl suggests in her video that a huge solar flare similar to the Carrington event is becoming likely to happen leading up to 2025, but most power utilities and government agencies were said to have been preparing for another solar flare of such magnitude.
As such, they have been identifying their respective grid vulnerabilities and working to keep them secure and functioning.
Related Article: Solar Flare Captured in a Photo by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory
