Breaking: X9 Solar X-ray Flare In Progress Now

At about 5 AM PST a huge X9 Solar X-ray flare began:

Here is the link at Space weather:

http://services.swpc.noaa.gov/images/goes-xray-flux.gif

The flare has probably originated from sun spot AR2673.  From Space weather:

*Sunspot AR2673 has a “beta-gamma-delta” magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares.”

AR2673 is stil facing the earth so this flare will be geo-effective.

We will wait to see if there is coranal mass ejection as well.

This is the largest flare I have ever seen.

There has been quite a lot of solar activity this week:

“On Sept. 4th, active sunspot AR2673 hurled a CME toward Earth. Estimated time of arrival: Today. According to NOAA forecasters, the CME’s impact will spark moderately-strong G2-class geomagnetic storms with isolated periods of strong G3-class storming on Sept. 6th and 7th.”

What is a solar Flare:

“A solar flare is an explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Flares produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and gamma-rays.”

More:

https://hesperia.gsfc.nasa.gov/sftheory/flare.htm

http://spaceweather.com/

Update from Space Weather (12:05 PST):

“MAJOR X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: On Sept. 6th at 1202 UT, sunspot AR2673 unleashed a major X9.3-class solar flare–the strongest solar flare in more than a decade. X-rays and UV radiation from the blast ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, causing a strong shortwave radio blackout over Europe, Africa and the Atlantic Ocean:”

A large enough geo-effective solar flare could produce another Carrington event:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

The solar storm of 1859 was natures equivalent to an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack.

See also:

http://empcommission.org/docs/empc_exec_rpt.pdf

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/security/has204000.000/has204000_0f.htm

It may be time for a prepper food run:

/survival/2013/10/wal-mart-prepper-food-run-2496058.html

Get ready to go camping at home:

/2012/2012/12/camping-at-home-the-easy-way-to-prep-2441508.html

.