Why is it in the news?

• NASA issues a warning amid a surge in sunspots, indicating the likelihood of multiple Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) from the Sun.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

• CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona, the outermost part of its atmosphere.
• Typically associated with sunspot groups, CMEs are often accompanied by solar flares and solar wind.

Sunspots

• Sunspots are dark spots on the Sun’s surface where the magnetic field is strong.
• They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface.

Solar Wind

• Solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the Sun’s corona during CMEs.
• It can eject billions of tons of coronal material and carries an embedded magnetic field.

Solar Flares

• Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation associated with sunspots.
• Categorized by strength: B-class (smallest), C, M, and X (largest).
• Each letter signifies a ten-fold increase in energy output, similar to the Richter scale for earthquakes.

CME Impact

• Aurora Formation: Interaction with Earth’s magnetic field leads to the formation of auroras.
• Radio Blackouts: Disruption of radio communications.
• Satellite Damage: CMEs can potentially damage satellites.
• Navigation System Errors: Impact on navigation systems due to magnetic field variations.
• Astronaut Exposure: Increased radiation exposure for astronauts in space.

Impact on Earth

• Solar flares directly affect the ionosphere and can disrupt radio communications on Earth.
• The fastest Earth-directed CMEs can reach our planet in as little as 15-18 hours after being expelled from the Sun.
• Space agencies and organizations monitor sunspot activities to issue warnings and take precautions for potential impacts on Earth’s systems.