According to Space, on December 14, a sunspot released at least 8 coronal mass ejections. One of these, designated M6, caused a shortwave radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean at 21:42 (Vietnam time) on December 14.
A coronal mass ejection launched from sunspot AR3165 – (Photo: SDO/NASA).
These coronal mass ejections cause what is known as geomagnetic storms or solar storms, which are bursts of electromagnetic radiation traveling at the speed of light. When they collide with the magnetic field lines in Earth’s magnetosphere, they can disrupt electrical systems, telecommunications, and even cause satellites to go “off course.”
X-class flares are the strongest, followed by M-class. The 8 flares directed towards Earth on December 14 were M-class, but scientists suspect there may be an X-class flare on December 15, accompanied by a “coronal mass ejection,” a massive fireball of plasma.
When a coronal mass ejection occurs, auroras often illuminate the polar skies of Earth but can also displace satellites from their orbits.
The sunspot AR3165 has recently appeared on the visible part of the Sun. This is where the magnetic field lines become twisted and tense. This compression occasionally results in the release of highly energetic flares, acting as a form of relief.
