Solar Radiation Storm Warning Issued as X1.5 Flare Disrupts Radio and Navigation Signals"

 A recent solar flare disrupted radio communications and navigation signals throughout North America, raising concerns about the potential for further disruptions in the near future.

This particular solar flare was classified as an X1.5 flare, with the X-class designation indicating its high intensity, and the numerical value representing its strength level. 

Remarkably, this event unfolded just a few days after the occurrence of an X1.6 flare on the preceding Saturday.

In response to these solar activities, the United Kingdom's Met Office took proactive measures by issuing a warning about a mild solar radiation storm.

 This storm emerged due to the presence of charged solar particles within Earth's atmosphere. As of now, the event has been categorised as a 'mild category 1' storm, alleviating concerns about potential harm to satellites, infrastructure, or individuals.

The likelihood of additional solar flares remains elevated as long as the expansive sunspot cluster, which was responsible for the previous two flares, remains visible on the sun's surface. 

Forecasts indicate that this sunspot cluster is anticipated to move out of sight behind the sun's edge within the next 48 hours.

Keith Strong, a solar physicist, shared insights on the impact of the X1.5 Flare through a tweet, explaining that it triggered an R3 (strong) radio blackout event across the illuminated side of Earth. 

The areas most affected by this blackout included the majority of the United States, Canada, and the Pacific Ocean.

 Frequencies below 5Mhz were particularly susceptible to disruption, and navigation signals experienced degradation.

When assessing solar events like flares, space weather prediction centers have the capability to provide advance notice ranging from hours to days before the event's anticipated arrival on Earth. 

However, these centers often lack comprehensive information about the severity and associated risks posed by such events.