'Solar storm warning': NASA observes coronal loops flicker on Sun; will it cause a complete blackout?

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of coronal loops above an active region on the Sun in mid-January 2012. The image was taken in the 171 angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. (Image: NASA)

Scientists believe they’ve found a potential way to predict solar flares. Using NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, a team has identified early warning signs of solar flares. This could protect astronauts and technology from hazardous space weather.

Identifying Warning Signs
The research team, led by Emily Mason from Predictive Sciences Inc., focused on coronal loops. These loops are arch-like structures in the Sun’s corona. The team studied loops near strong solar flares. They observed how the brightness of these loops fluctuated hours before a flare.

“We found that loops above active regions flicker before flares,” Mason said. “These flickers help predict the Sun’s activity.”

Improving Space Weather Predictions
Flickering patterns in coronal loops may signal solar flares 2 to 6 hours before they happen. The team suggests this method is more accurate than previous predictions. It could give alerts with 60 to 80 percent accuracy.

“Our research offers a better understanding of solar flares,” said Seth Garland, a team member. “It could lead to better protection for space technology.”

With these findings, NASA and other agencies can improve safety measures. An automated system could detect changes in coronal loops. It would then issue warnings for astronauts and spacecraft, as well as power grids on Earth.