Russian scientists have warned of impending solar flare activity that could interfere with short-wave communications on Monday, July 17, 2023. The Fedorov Institute of Applied Geophysics in Moscow said that class X flares, the largest explosions in the solar system, are possible and that short-wave radio conditions are expected to deteriorate.
Solar flares are caused by the sudden release of energy in the sun’s magnetic field. They can emit a burst of radiation that can travel through space and reach Earth. When this radiation interacts with Earth’s atmosphere, it can disrupt radio communications and cause power outages.
The scientists at the Fedorov Institute said that the solar flare activity is caused by a sunspot group called AR3038, currently the largest sunspot group on the sun. Sunspot groups are regions of intense magnetic activity on the sun, and they are often associated with solar flares.
The scientists said that the solar flare activity is expected to peak on Monday but could continue into Tuesday. They advised people to be prepared for possible disruptions to short-wave communications during this time.
