Solar flares are the result of changes in magnetic fields on the sunspots that lead to a massive explosion (Source: NASA) Reports of a high-speed solar storm, which was rumoured to be approaching Earth, have been debunked as false news.
The solar flare, flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun’s atmosphere, was detected on July 3. It can travel at a maximum speed of 500 km/second, according to spaceweather.com. The rumour could have stemmed from this report.
Although full-fledged geomagnetic (magnetic field associated with Earth) storms are unlikely, lesser geomagnetic unrest could spark high-latitude auroras.
Solar flares are massive explosions on the surface of the sun that release energy, light and high-speed particles into space. According to Nasa, the biggest flares are known as “X-class flares” based on a classification system that categorises solar flares as per their strength. The smallest ones fall under A-class, followed by B, C, M and X. The solar flare that is likely to hit Earth’s magnetic field today is an X-class flare.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article citing a spaceweather.com report was debunked as fake news.
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