Map Reveals US Blackout After Powerful Solar Flare
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Large parts of the USA suffered a radio blackout due to major activity in space this week.
On June 15, North America found itself under a shortwave radio blackout, leading to a loss of signal at frequencies below 20 Megahertz (MHz).
Amateur radio operators may have been affected by the signal loss, with commercial radio usually operating at a higher MHz rate.
The blackout was caused by a solar flare from the sun, following a growing active region of a sunspot.
Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation or light on the sun. They are the most powerful explosions in the solar system, and can contain as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs, according to NASA. Solar flares are classified according to their intensity, with an M being the second-highest on the scale.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the moment of eruption, which has been classed as an M8.3 solar flare—and which almost reached an X-class on the scale.
A map showing the areas affected by the solar flare, including the entirety of North America. Inset, an image of the solar flare.
A map showing the areas affected by the solar flare, including the entirety of North America. Inset, an image of the solar flare.
NOAA/SWPC/NASA
Solar flares can affect us on Earth, and radiation from this flare caused a shortwave radio blackout. A map released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the entirety of the United States was affected by the blackout, for MHz at around and under a rate of 20.
Much of South America was affected on a lower scale, while Canada and Greenland were affected at the same rate as the US.
As well as the radio blackout, the solar flare also hurled a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) into space. These clouds of solar material expand as they sweep through space, and the flank of this CME will hit Earth in the coming days, bringing a chance of geomagnetic storms.
A solar flare erupting on June 15, causing the radio blackout.
A solar flare erupting on June 15, causing the radio blackout.
NASA / Solar Dynamics Observatory
Geomagnetic storms caused by CMEs can lead to Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights, lighting up our skies.
A previous recent geomagnetic storm prompted the NOAA to forecast a likelihood of Aurora over much of the US on June 13, with Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin predicted to be directly underneath the phenomenon.
The northern lights are easiest to spot in clear weather and away from bright lights and light pollution of cities, however stargazers do not need to be directly underneath the phenomenon to view it.
As NOAA explains on its website: "The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as a 1,000 km [621 miles] away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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