While solar flares can have a large impact on the global economy due to their negative influence on electronic devices and networks, both wired and wireless, it is worth mentioning that none of the top 10 such events ever recorded occurred in last five years (sourcehttps://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity/top-50-solar-flares.html). Yesterday, NASA recorded another noteworthy solar flare, although its intensity was more than three times lower than that of the last entry into the aforementioned top 50.
According to data measured by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory mission, the solar flare that occurred yesterday peaked at 7.08 am and was classified as an X1.5 flare. The most intense solar flare ever recorded occurred on November 4, 2003, peaking above the X40 level and lasting a total of 37 minutes. Earlier this month, NASA recorded two more strong solar flares of which the strongest was marked as X1.4.
On June 8, an M-class solar flare was the cause of a severe radiation storm. As revealed by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center https://x.com/NWSSWPC/status/1800172176966144045 it caused a massive radio blackout in the north polar area. To make a comparison with the previously mentioned flares, one must keep in mind that its intensity was less than X1.0 (M9.7, while M-class flares are 10 times less intense than their X-labeled counterparts).
Those who want to learn more about solar flares can do so by reading Solar Flares: What You Need to Know: A Tarcher/Penguin Special, available only in Kindle format for just $3.99.
