Sun Emits X-class Solar Flare Along with CME Causing Radio Blackout

Since October of this year there has been a lot of activity on the Sun with 24 medium class solar flares and four X class solar flares. Looks like the sun's activity is ramping up some more as on Tuesday, the sun emitted another significant solar flare.

NASA announced that on Nov 19, 2013 the sun unleashed a solar flare classified as X1.0 class flare that peaked at 5.26 a.m. EST and caused a radio blackout.  This flare originated from an active region numbered AR 1893 that is rotating far from sight over sun's right side. Since it was ranked as the strongest types of storm, experts believe the explosion hurled coronal mass ejection (CME) into the space.

"This impulsive flare may have an associated CME, but early indications are it will not have a significant impact on the geomagnetic field," SWPC center officials wrote in an update Tuesday, source NBC News.

The powerful bursts of radiation from the sun are called as solar flare. Radiations from the flare cannot pass through the Earth's atmosphere, therefore it does not cause any physical damage earthlings but when they get intense, they are capable of disrupting the layer of atmosphere where GPS and communication signals travel.

This activity of the Sun was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.  A video of the solar eruption was also captured.

Based on the intensity these flares are being classified with 'A' class being the weakest and the 'X' class being the highest level of flares.  X class flares that are the most potent and intense ones pose a great threat to astronauts and satellites in the orbits.

According to SpaceWeather.com, the UV flash produced a wave of ionization in the upper atmosphere over Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia. They also suspect that this caused blackout of HF radio transmission near the poles.

The latest solar flare triggered a 10cm radio burst that lasted for almost seven minutes, source Nature World News.

"A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications," NOAA/Space Weather Prediction Center stated.

These flares have become quite common since October as the sun is approaching its solar maximum. Once in every 11 years, a solar flip occurs that affects the entire solar system. These solar flares combined with CMEs are an indication that the Sun is close to its solar maximum condition.