The solar events, captured on film by Nasa, caused communications blackouts on Tuesday lunchtime – and there may be further consequences tomorrow.

“Impacts from this activity were short-lived and affected high-frequency communications for the daylit side of Earth at the time of the flare,” said a statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website.

“A Coronal Mass Ejection associated with the activity has been observed moving at a flank from Earth and a glancing blow to Earth from this event is expected on June 13.”
Solar flares. The three solar flares emitted this week.

A Coronal Mass Ejection releases vast amounts of matter and electromagnetic radiation – resulting in a threat to high-frequency communication systems used by weather stations, aviators, government time stations and international shortwave broadcasters, among others.

Nasa says GPS can also be affected by solar flares.

“Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground,” the organisation’s website says.
Solar flares. A Coronal Mass Ejection could hit earth tomorrow.

“However, when intense enough, they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.”

The solar flares – caused by the build-up of magnetic energy in the sun’s atmosphere – are thought to be among the most powerful of the current 11-year solar cycle.

The NOAA has warned of “continuing chances” of further flares in the near future – some of which could be even more powerful.

Source: Skynews.com