On December 8, 2024, a significant X2-class solar flare was recorded, coinciding with the solar maximum phase characterized by heightened solar activity. This event, detected by NASA's GOES-R satellite, resulted in temporary disruptions to radio communications on Earth.
The solar maximum, part of the current 11-year solar cycle that began in 2019, is marked by an increase in sunspot activity—dark areas with strong magnetic fields. These sunspots are responsible for energy and radiation emissions, including solar flares.
While X-class flares are the most powerful and can disrupt satellite operations and communications, the recent flare was particularly notable as it was the first of its class observed in an extended period. The X2 flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona, projected to partially impact Earth, potentially leading to a geomagnetic storm on December 11.
This geomagnetic activity is expected to produce bright auroras, even at lower latitudes. However, predicting the exact nature of the storm remains challenging, with scientists likely to assess its effects post-event.
Solar flares are classified into five categories: A, B, C, M, and X, with each subsequent class being ten times more powerful than the previous. Classes A and B have no significant impact on Earth, while C and M classes can have minor effects. The recent X2 flare caused a temporary radio blackout in southern Africa due to intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation, which reaches Earth in less than ten minutes.
NASA previously developed a 3D model to illustrate certain aspects of solar behavior, acknowledging that fully modeling all processes within the Sun is extremely complex.