2nd Earth-Directed Solar Flare In Two Days Creates Shortwave Radio Blackout

Second Earth-directed solar flare in two days creates shortwave radio blackout over southeast Asia – Solar tsunami CME may impact us!!!

Strange Sounds

This is the second earth directed solar flare in two days! After the strong M-flare on April 20, 2021, Earth-facing sunspot AR2816 exploded this morning, producing a C3.8-class solar flare:

The expelled pulse of X-rays and UV radiation ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, producing a shortwave radio blackout over southeast Asia.

Of greater interest, however, is this shadowy wave rippling away from the blast site:

This is a “solar tsunami.” Such waves are usually associated with the launch of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

We don’t yet know if a CME is heading our way; coronagraph data from SOHO arriving later today will clinch the case (or not).

Additional evidence for a CME comes in the form of solar radio bursts.NOAA reports the detection of Type II and Type IV bursts shortly after the flare. These are usually generated in the leading edge of CMEs.

Stay tuned and keep your eyes to the sky… The sun has always something for us! Now prepare yourself against the next solar storm…