SOLAR FLARES (KERNEL)
1. Context
Recently, the Aditya-L1 Mission, India’s first dedicated space mission for solar studies, has captured a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere, namely the photosphere and the chromosphere.
2. Solar Cycles
- The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) aboard the Aditya-L1 mission identified the ‘kernel’ of a solar flare while observing an X6.3-class solar flare on February 22, 2024—one of the most powerful categories of solar eruptions. What makes this discovery significant is that SUIT detected brightening within the near-ultraviolet wavelength range (200-400 nm).
- According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the current solar activity and the number of sunspots indicate that the solar cycle might be approaching its peak, although official confirmation is still pending.
- Scientists suggest that the solar maximum provides the most favorable opportunity for launching and studying the Sun.
- Consequently, there has been an increase in solar observation missions. Experts in solar physics recognize that if this opportunity is missed, the next period of heightened solar activity will not occur until 2035-2036.
- The Sun’s magnetic field, similar to that of a bar magnet, consists of north and south poles created by the movement of electrically charged particles within it. Approximately every 11 years, the magnetic field undergoes a complete reversal, with the poles switching positions. This phenomenon is referred to as the solar cycle
- The solar cycle influences the Sun’s surface activity. The Sun experiences its highest level of activity when the magnetic field flips, a phase known as the solar maximum.
- During this period, there is an increase in the frequency and intensity of radiation and particle bursts emitted into space. Following the flip, the Sun gradually becomes less active, reaching the solar minimum before a new cycle begins
- The occurrence of sunspots—small, dark, and cooler regions with intensified magnetic fields—is at its highest during the solar maximum and at its lowest during the solar minimum. Scientists monitor the solar cycle by counting the number of sunspots
- Throughout the solar cycle, both solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) become more frequent. Solar flares release vast amounts of radiation and energetic particles due to the sudden discharge of magnetic energy stored within the Sun’s complex magnetic field. CMEs, on the other hand, involve the ejection of substantial amounts of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun
- These solar events can significantly influence space weather and Earth's geospace. Potential consequences include disruptions in radio communications, interference with satellite operations, effects on power grids, and increased risks for astronauts and airline passengers
3. Solar Missions
- India’s first dedicated solar mission, Aditya-L1, was launched on September 2, 2023, with the goal of enhancing our understanding of the Sun’s radiation, heat, particle emissions, and magnetic fields and their effects on Earth.
- The mission carries seven scientific instruments, including two key payloads: the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VLEC) and the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
- The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Proba-3 mission on December 5, 2024, using ISRO’s PSLV-C59 rocket. This mission marks the first-ever demonstration of “precision formation flying,” where two satellites will maintain a coordinated formation in space.
- The two satellites—Occulter Spacecraft (200 kg) and Coronagraph Spacecraft (340 kg)—will simulate a natural solar eclipse by positioning themselves in Earth’s orbit in such a way that one satellite casts a shadow onto the other
- NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission was launched on March 11, 2025. According to NASA, this mission consists of four small, suitcase-sized satellites designed to collectively observe the Sun and its surrounding environment.
- Together, these satellites will create a continuous field of view to study the region where the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona) transitions into the solar wind, the continuous stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun
4.Aditya-L1 mission
The Aditya-L1 mission is India’s first dedicated space-based solar observatory, designed to study the Sun and its influence on space weather. Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, 2023, aboard a PSLV-C57 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, it marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey. The spacecraft was successfully placed into a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system on January 6, 2024, after a 126-day journey covering approximately 1.5 million kilometers. Below is a comprehensive overview of the mission based on available data as of March 21, 2025
The Lagrange Point 1 (L1), located about 1.5 million km from Earth (1% of the Earth-Sun distance), is a gravitationally stable spot where the pull of the Sun and Earth balance. A halo orbit around L1 allows Aditya-L1 to:
- Continuously view the Sun without interruptions from eclipses or occultations.
- Provide an early warning system for solar storms, offering about an hour’s lead time before they reach Earth.
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For Prelims: Proba-3, (PUNCH) mission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
For Mains: GS III - Science & technology
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Previous Year Questions
1.If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? (UPSC CSE 2022) 1. GPS and navigation systems could fail. 2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions. 3. Power grids could be damaged. 4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth. 5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet. 6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed. 7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only (b) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only (c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Answer (c) A major solar storm or solar flare can have several impacts on Earth, primarily due to the intense bursts of radiation and charged particles interacting with the Earth's magnetosphere. Possible effects:
Incorrect options: |
Source: Indianexpress
