spacetoday.net: More solar flares spotted

Posted: Mon, Nov 3, 2003, 6:43 PM ET (2343 GMT)
Sun as seen on November 3 2003 by SOHO (NASA)

Astronomers observed three strong flares on the Sun during a 24-hour period on Sunday and Monday, triggering a new round of solar storms that will reach the Earth this week. The strongest of the three flares, observed Sunday afternoon, measured an X8 on the scale of solar flare activity, making it a strong flare but weaker than some of the powerful flares observed last week. Two weaker flares were spotted late Sunday night and early Monday. The flares are expected to trigger a strong to severe geomagnetic storm late Monday into Tuesday, measuring a G3 or G4 on the 1-5 scale of storm activity. By comparison, the storms last week peaked at G5, but caused only modest communications interruptions. The storms are also linked with the shutdown of at least one and possibly two Japanese spacecraft. One space scientist told SPACE.com that the recent spate of strong solar storms is "one of the most dramatic periods of solar activity we have seen in modern time."