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Explosion on The Sun - Solar Flares the 8 Minute Journey

Solar system flares are the biggest explosions in the universe, and the most energetic. They were first discovered by Galileo in the early 17th century, and then later on in 1859 by an English amateur astronomer by the name of Richard Christopher Carrington. Subsequently, they haven't yet only been observed on the sun, however they were also viewed on other stars also.

A solar flare is actually a large explosion in the sun atmosphere which could release about 6 × 1025 joules of energy(regarding a sixth of the total energy output of the sun each second). Although challenging to predict their occurrence with any certainty, the only warning lies in the simple fact that most proton storms take some hours from the time of visual detection to succeed in earth's orbit (providing bit of time to arrange due to its impact).

Solar flares develop from a process called magnetic reconnection whereby opposite magnetic fields on the sun's surface come together resulting in a sudden release of energy. Solar flares affect all layers of the solar atmosphere (photosphere, corona, and chromosphere), causing plasma to warm to tens of millions of kelvins(a unit of measurement of temperature) and accelerating electrons, protons, and heavier ions to near the speed of light. In fact, while the fastest holiday to the moon took 8 hours and 38 minutes, solar flares just take only 8 minutes to get their way into the earths ionosphere an may have damaging effects. These flares produce radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum in the least wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays and as a consequence, may cause damaging effects on the earth for example: Loss of power systems, radiation poisoning, rendering chip ran vehicles powerless, affecting inter-planetary travel for astronauts, as well as mobile phones (along with electronics) and satellite interruptions (together with other systems operating at those frequencies).

Most flares occur in active regions around sunspots (visible liver spots on the photosphere of the sun), where intense magnetic fields penetrate the photosphere (deepest region of the sun) to link the corona (type of plasma atmosphere that extends far into space) to the solar interior. Flares are powered by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the corona. When a solar flare is exceptionally powerful, it may cause coronal mass ejections(massive burst of wind, plasma, magnetic strength that is released into space).

Solar activity varies which has an 11-year cycle (the solar cycle). At the peak of the cycle one can find typically more sunspots on the Sun, and so more solar flares. NASA predicts as the sun approaches its 11 year cycle in 2012, when the sun aligns with the milky way galaxy(a conference which only occurs approx. every 211,000 years), increase the amount of solar flares the sun experiences and possibly increased dangers to the earth (resulting from potential increased coronal mass ejections).

Although solar flares is usually troublesome at times, they also have been connected with adding to the breathtaking southern and northern polar lights phenomenons for example the aurora borealis and aurora australis.

The noticably solar storm in history happened in 1859 (called the Carrington Event named after English amateur astronomer Richard Christopher Carrington)causing telegraph wires in both the Usa and Europe to spontaneously short out (lasting 8 days), causing numerous fires, and the phenomena of the Northern Lights to be observed as far south as Rome, Havana and Hawaii. It was recorded that the Northern Lights were so bright, you possibly can read the newspaper solely by reviewing the illumination. Of late, a 1994 solar storm caused major malfunctions to two communications satellites, disrupting newspaper, network television and nationwide radio service throughout Canada.

Whether the sun shall be in its active or quiet period on or before 2012, scientists is able to predict. The fact remains that solar storms occur almost daily and are generally significantly a component of our existence. The National Academy of Sciences report says a giant solar event could induce ground currents which would knock out 300 key transformers within about 90 seconds. You should any impending threats to the earth, it is always wise to hold fast to the old addage,"it's easier to be secure than sorry" and grow prepared by informing yourself on easy methods to survive a large solar storm.

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