Second major solar flare today – Solar flare measuring X2.86 peaked at 16:05 UTC

The Sun is showing real solar-maximum-like activity today. After 2 moderate solar flares last night, an X1.7 erupted at 02:15 UTC. It was followed by another M-class at 12:03 UTC and numerous C-class flares.

At 15:48 UTC, on May 13, 2013, a second major eruption started. Peak time was reached at 16:05 UTC and was measured as X2.86 solar flare. The source was again, an active region located around the eastern limb. This region will most likely continue to produce eruptions as it turns into Earth view today.

A 10cm Radio burst was associated with the event. A type II and type IV radio emissions were also associated.  Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong Coronal Mass Ejections and solar radiation storms.

This was second major solar flare of the day. The first one was strongest this year, this second one was even stronger and now holds the record of strongest solar flare this year so far.

Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01
Serial Number: 84
Issue Time: 2013 May 13 1652 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1
Begin Time: 2013 May 13 1548 UTC
Maximum Time: 2013 May 13 1605 UTC
End Time: 2013 May 13 1616 UTC
X-ray Class: X2.8
Optical Class: 1n
Location: N11E85
NOAA Scale: R3 – Strong

Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point.
Radio – Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour.

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Space Weather Message Code: SUM10R
Serial Number: 577
Issue Time: 2013 May 13 1649 UTC

SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2013 May 13 1553 UTC
Maximum Time: 2013 May 13 1601 UTC
End Time: 2013 May 13 1618 UTC
Duration: 25 minutes
Peak Flux: 520 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 147 sfu

Description: A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

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Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP2
Serial Number: 851
Issue Time: 2013 May 13 1701 UTC

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2013 May 13 1557 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 949 km/s
Description: Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the sun and typically indicate a coronal mass ejection is associated with a flare event.

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Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP4
Serial Number: 413
Issue Time: 2013 May 13 1701 UTC

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2013 May 13 1557 UTC
Description: Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms.

Sunspots

There are currently 10 active regions on the disk. Two of them have Beta-Gamma magnetic field but we are still not seeing any larger eruption from them. 

1734 – Alpha
1738   – Beta
1739 – Alpha
1740 – Alpha
1741 – Beta
1742  –  Beta
1743  –  Beta
1744 – Beta
1745 – Beta-Gamma
1746  –  Beta-Gamma
1747 – Beta

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Featured image: NASA SDO