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X17 Solar Flare Sends 2B Tons of Plasma at Earth

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the spf-5000 dept.

Dr. Zowie writes "This morning a very large solar flare erupted from a large sunspot group that is crossing the face of the Sun. The explosion sent over 2 billion tons of material hurtling across the solar system toward Earth. Movies from the SOHO spacecraft show the flare in UV and the associated coronal mass ejection in visible light as they happened, and the impact of high energy protons that the flare launched at about half the speed of light. NOAA's Space Environment Center shows that the Sun's X-ray brightness went up 100x during the flare. Expect more aurora and geomagnetic effects in the next day or two!"

31 of 473 comments (clear)

  1. For those whose first response is "WTF?" by mandalayx · · Score: 5, Informative
    My first response to the article was "WTF?" but I decided to do something more productive than that. Perhaps you might find this more accessible to you as well:

    The Sun today unleashed what appears to be the third most powerful flare in recorded history, a storm of charged particles that could hit Earth mid-day Wednesday with more effect than any since 1989, when an entire Canadian province had its power knocked out.

    Depending on the storm's magnetic orientation, it could set off a dramatic display of colorful northern lights well into mid-latitudes of the United States and Europe.

    Meanwhile, satellite operators and power grid managers are preparing to endure a potentially damaging event. And astronauts aboard the International Space Station have taken cover from heavier radiation sent out by the flare. They are not expected to be in any serious danger.

    Kicked up at 6 a.m. EST (1100 UT) today, the major solar outburst comes on the heels of four other flares late last week and over the weekend. All were considered fairly severe, but the latest eruption makes the others seem like solar sneezes.

    Today's blast is classified as an X17, where X denotes a major flare and larger numbers are stronger. That compares to two flare-ups over the weekend that were rated less than X2.

    "The flare today may be the third strongest X-flare on record," said Paal Brekke, deputy project scientist for the SOHO spacecraft, which first spotted the event.

    A slightly stronger flare on April 2, 2001 was not pointed at Earth. Today's storm is headed directly at us and could generate fantastic colorful lights in the atmosphere, known as aurora. The storm associated with the flare is called a coronal mass ejection, an expanding bubble of charged particles that race outward.

    more
    1. Re:For those whose first response is "WTF?" by greenhide · · Score: 4, Funny

      I always thought of a sneeze as my most violent respiratory function.

      Well, obviously, you've never had a nose "flare" before. Very messy.

      --
      Karma: Chevy Kavalierma.
    2. Re:For those whose first response is "WTF?" by jmv · · Score: 4, Informative

      with more effect than any since 1989, when an entire Canadian province had its power knocked out.

      Yes, that province was Quebec and we were in the dark for 2-3 days IIRC. A the time, the power company (Hydro Quebec) said "it's because of the sun" and everybody made fun of them.

      I wonder if this was also due to the very long power lines (>1000 km) we have from the hydro plants to the cities... I heard they also make perfect antennas for sending 60 Hz waves into space.

      --
      Opus: the Swiss army knife of audio codec
  2. Helpdesk Excuse-of-the-Day by Vinson+Massif · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sunspots.

    --
    "Remember, any tool can be the right tool." -- Red Green
    1. Re:Helpdesk Excuse-of-the-Day by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Funny

      Strange, that's what my mechanic told me this morning. Something about sunspots having demagnetized the debigulator, which caused all my blinker fluid to leak out. I thought the $1024 repair bill excessive, but hey, what do I know about cars?

  3. Astronomy is fun by pheared · · Score: 5, Funny

    Skinner: Ah, there's nothing more exciting than science. You get all
    the fun of sitting still, being quiet, writing down numbers,
    paying attention...[chuckles] Science has it all.

  4. Great... by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 5, Funny
    Now we can expect a lot more of those lame "no carrier" posts on Wed. Although for once, they could be for real since the interf32#@a#%$ATDT01[NO CARRIER]

  5. Re:So will I ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    spaceweather.com has an interesting service that will page you if there is an aurora in your locality. Check it out.

  6. A question about the Sun's behavior by windows · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The sunspot cycle (which takes 11 years) peaked in 2000, yet there's an unusually large amount of activity of late. There was a somewhat intense solar flare a few days ago, and now this one, which is believed to be the third-largest one on record. Are there any explanations for this large amount of activity at what should be a non-peak time?

    1. Re:A question about the Sun's behavior by isaac · · Score: 5, Insightful
      The sunspot cycle (which takes 11 years) peaked in 2000, yet there's an unusually large amount of activity of late. There was a somewhat intense solar flare a few days ago, and now this one, which is believed to be the third-largest one on record. Are there any explanations for this large amount of activity at what should be a non-peak time?

      Let's see:

      • The roughly-11-year solar cycle is just based on observation and correlation. It lets one make certain predictions about the likelihood of solar events, but that's all.
      • Recorded history isn't very long compared to the sun's age, to say nothing of the still-shorter track record of scientific solar observation. The sun may (and probably does) exhibit other epicyclic phenomena on timescales too long for us to have directly measured.

      That's a start. Just because we're past the predicted peak of current cycle doesn't mean there won't be solar activity.

      -Isaac

      --
      I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
    2. Re:A question about the Sun's behavior by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Are there any explanations for this large amount of activity at what should be a non-peak time?

      Yes - it's not a large amount during a non-peak time.

      It's a normal amount for this time period, the only difference is that the recent ones are actually being sent towards us, so they affect us more..

      CME's are a pretty regular occurrence, and they do follow an 11-year cycle, but most of them never affect us, because we're not in the path of the flare. (Think about it - the earth occupies a pretty small percentage of real estate around the sun - so there's a pretty small chance that a CME will send stuff our way.)

      The amount is normal for this time period, it's just that the recent ones are aimed at us.

  7. Braak out the RJ-45!!! by grocer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Time to find the ethernet cables and plug in all those wireless laptops...

    No 802.11b, 1 year!

  8. next day or two? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why next day or two? At the half of speed of light, this stuff should hit us in about 16 minutes. So you can't really "prepare" for something like this. What am I missing?

    1. Re:next day or two? by Donwulff · · Score: 5, Informative

      They had an odd way of putting this. The proton flare caused a solar storm which hit Earth within minutes of the flare commencing. However, the associated CME is significantly slower (Still over 2000 kilometers per second) and will hit within hours. The CME will have higher total energy and is what will cause fluctuations in the gemmagnetic field, ie. a gemomagnetic storm. "Next day or two" is probably because they didn't know this was a high-speed event yet.

  9. Way cool... by Kr3m3Puff · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I have to just admit the awe I have in watching the SOHO Video... that is just totally amazing. Makes you feel teeny weenie small, doesn't it?

    Forget Iraq, the 2004 Election, the economy...

    And people question our space exploration budget!!! Silly people!

    --
    D.O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V.M.
  10. Re:So will I ... by Donwulff · · Score: 5, Informative

    These events are already causing a slashdot effect on the solar weather sites without Slashdot even mentioning them, so here's a copy of the best report I've come across, from http://www.spacew.com/cme/index.html:

    Event #49 - 28 October 2003

    Issued: 16:30 UTC, 28 October 2003

    SOURCE EVENT

    Class X17.2 Flare in Region 486 at 11:10 UTC on 28 October 2003
    Type II: 1250 km/sec
    Estimated LASCO-derived Plane of Sky Velocity: 2125 km/sec

    ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OF SHOCK AT EARTH

    Estimated Impact Window: 00:00 UTC on 29 October to 21:00 UTC on 29 October
    Preferred Predicted Impact Time: 08:00 UTC, 29 October 2003 (3 am EST on 29 October)
    Estimated Shock Strength (0=Weakest, 9=Strongest): 9

    Predicted Behavior of IMF at Shock Impact

    At Shock Impact, the Interplanetary Magnetic Field is predicted to initially turn:
    SOUTHWARD

    IMPORTANT TIME OF ARRIVAL NOTICE FOR NORTH AMERICANS
    The preferred time of arrival is ***TONIGHT***, TUESDAY NIGHT (before you go to bed that night) near or after 3 am Eastern Standard Time).
    That's 2 am Central Standard Time on TONIGHT.
    That's 1 am Mountain Standard Time on TONIGHT.
    That's MIDNIGHT Pacific Standard Time on TONIGHT.

    EXPECT RESIDUAL ACTIVITY (LESS INTENSE) TOMMORROW NIGHT (WEDNESDAY, 29 OCT) AS WELL !

    EVENT #49 NOTES:

    This is the most energetic Earthward-directed event of the solar cycle.

    SEVERE to MAJOR geomagnetic storming is expected to abruptly commence following the arrival of the shock front from this flare.

    This flare was associated with a Ground-Level Event. It was also associated with very high energy protons at greater than 100 MeV (which are still climbing, over 5 hours after the event began). A magnetic crochet was observed over the daylit sections of the ionosphere. An exceptionally intense shortwave fadeout and polar cap absorption event are in progress. There are reports this event was observed in white-light. Intense radio bursts were associated with this event across the spectrum. The type II shock velocity is not representative of the observed velocity of this CME. The observed velocity as determined by SOHO was 2125 km/sec.

    This event has the potential to produce the strongest geomagnetic storm since 1989. Auroral activity could become visible into the deep low latitude regions. This one is worth driving a good long distance over to find clear skies. It has better potential to produce low-latitude aurora than almost any other event observed in the past decade. Keep in mind that it is also possible the disturbance may not be nearly as geoeffective as many would like. It all depends on the character of the magnetic fields imbedded within the coronal mass ejection. However, we believe it will either be very large, or only modestly large in terms of its capacity to produce disturbed geomagnetic and auroral activity. We do not expect this disturbance to be small.

    These predictions may be based on preliminary data and may be revised without warning. The predictions should not be used as a definitive indication of CME impact times or strengths and may frequently be in error. The proprietary methods used to estimate shock impact times are under continual development. Caution is advised.

  11. No Kyoto by FrankDrebin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thank god we've got all that extra CO2 in the atmosphere to protect us!

    --
    Anybody want a peanut?
  12. Check out the end of the CME mpg by southpolesammy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That blast on the last few frames of the CME mpg file is the CME that occured earlier today. The end of the movie looks like someone polka-dotted the screen, but from the NOAA's website, that's actually the high-charged protons from the CME hitting the camera's lens. This is one whopper of a storm.

    --
    Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
  13. This means WAR! by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny
    "Since the beginning of time, mankind has dreamed of striking out at the Sun!"

    This unprovoked attack on the planet Earth cannot be allowed to go unpunished! I say we take a page from the Israelis and build an orbital wall that will prevent any further such incursions in the future!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  14. Check your servers.... by grsiepka · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We have probably 30-40 different Sun servers at our shop that actually are affected by this. I guess (it sounds stupid as hell but its true) certain models of Sun's 400 mhz processors (used in anything from Ultra 10's to E4500's) were not shielded properly and actually can panic when substantial CME's like this occur.

    1. Re:Check your servers.... by Unregistered · · Score: 4, Funny

      Headline: SUN BRINGS DOWN SUNS

      damn lamenss filter.

  15. Taco Bell strikes again by Winterblink · · Score: 4, Funny

    I told the sun last night that those eight beef soft taco supremes were a bad idea. But did he listen to me? NOOOooooo.

    --
    "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
    -Hoban Washburn
  16. Tin foil hat! by Short+Circuit · · Score: 5, Funny

    And people told me my tin-foil hat wouldn't come in useful!

    --
    tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  17. Re:X17 by Jedi+Holocron · · Score: 4, Informative

    This list is based in part on "Large Solar Flares Since 1976" compiled by IPS Radio & Space Services.

    Ranking Day/Month/Year X-Ray Class

    1 02/04/01 X20.0
    1 16/08/89 X20.0
    2 28/10/03 X17.2
    3 06/03/89 X15.0
    3 11/07/78 X15.0
    4 15/04/01 X14.4
    5 24/04/84 X13.0
    5 19/10/89 X13.0
    etc.. etc..
    "

    I would have suggested classifications go to 11, but clearly they go much higher...

  18. "It's coming right for us!" *WHOOSH* "Kick Ass!" by n9fzx · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Note that as an X17, this flare is 10x the size of last week's little girly man X6 (log scale). And, unlike the X20 of two years ago, we're directly in its path. So, the resulting aurora should be on par with the 1989 event.

    Batten down those scintillation counters! Unhook the HF radios!

    --
    ...-.-
  19. The last of these warnings... by BDew · · Score: 4, Informative

    Due to a fight on Capitol Hill, NOAA's Space Environment Center (which tracks these events and other 'space weather' items) will not have any funding in 2004. The part of Congress that oversees NOAA does not think NOAA should have to pay for this, and has decided to cancel its funding in hopes that they can force NASA or the Air Force to pick up the tab.

    There is a hearing on the situation on Thursday the 30th.
    http://www.house.gov/science/press/108/108- 128.htm

    --
    "Fifty million Americans can't be wrong," said Rep. Billy Tauzin. Gore - 50,999,897 Bush - 50,456,002
  20. X10 is exacting its revenge by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The mighty and powerful X10 Corporation is now exacting its revenge upon its enemies! No popunders, you say? Fine! They have now upgraded from X10 to X17, and instead of simply displaying popunder windows they will now bombard the Earth with fireballs!

    (...and the followers of Mammon shall tremble.)

    --
    Tired of FB/Google censorship? Visit UNCENSORED!
  21. And as usual... by ashitaka · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's cloudy and rainy in Vancouver. :-(

    --
    If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
  22. What W said when told of the solar flares... by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Funny

    We will not be scared of these "solar evil-doers." The Sun is part of an "axis of stellar evil" that we must stamp out. We will make no distinction between solar flares, and the stars that sponsor these flares. Our nation will launch a campaign to stamp out all stellar terrorism in our galaxy. These nukyular furnaces of fear will no longer terrorize our nation, or Texas. Anybody wanna peanut?

  23. Re:"It's coming right for us!" *WHOOSH* "Kick Ass! by MarkGriz · · Score: 4, Funny
    Batten down those scintillation counters! Unhook the HF radios!"

    ...and head for the liquor store. After all, the best defense against a coronal mass ejection, is a massive Corona injection.

    --
    Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
  24. Re:So will I ... by Cloud+9 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm guessing nobody told you. They have to be female virgins. You and your 12 roommates won't accomplish much.

    --
    Karma: Dyn-o-mite!(mostly affected by Jimmy Walker reading your comments)