What are solar flares and CME's

I find it very interesting that we feel the very moment the sun sends off a flare when it’s 149.6 million kilometres away from earth!!! And, the energy from a solar flare can take 8 minutes to arrive and anywhere from 15 minutes to a three days for coronal mass ejections energy (CME) to reach us.

A solar flare is a quick burst or flash of light containing electromagnetic radiation, x-rays and gamma rays, and are quick to enter earth’s atmosphere. A CME is a slower and much larger ejection of plasma containing protons, charged particles and magnetic fields that can take up to three days to arrive here.

Solar flares range in intensity and are classed from A, B, C, M and X. A, B and C flares are less intense and happening regularly, it’s the M and X class flares that gain our attention. They all have a range from 1 to 10, for example an 9.9 M class flare is just off an X class flare.

The energy from solar flares and CME’s disrupt the earth’s atmosphere when it arrives, but how beautiful is it that we have a magnetosphere protecting the planet at all times. When the energy from the sun arrives the magnetosphere changes shape or is blasted into action to protect us from the intense energy, that’s when we see an aurora. All those beautiful colours are the energy from the sun interacting with our magnetosphere. But some of that energy does get through and when there’s a build up of it, the earth absorbs the energy over time and becomes more charged.

And then there are coronal holes causing solar wind. A coronal hole is an area on the sun that is cooler than other parts and looks like a big black hole. When a coronal hole is facing our earth, we experience solar wind charged with low levels of protons and x-ray radiation and can be at speeds between 500 to 800klm per second.

Another thing to note is that the sun has 11-year cycles of solar maximum and solar minimum. There are more flares during the solar maximum period and that’s what we’re experiencing at the moment. There is less solar activity during the solar minimum cycle.

During a solar maximum cycle, big enough ejections cause disruptions to all electrical systems ranging from power grids to radio waves, the internet, our phones and the electrical system in our body.

At the moment there are about 3 active sun spots which have the potential to send off some significant M and X class flares, so stay grounded and take very good care of yourself. If you can, imagine the energy flowing through you into the earth and thank Gaia for receiving the energy. I hope this works for you.

It goes to show how connected we are to our universe, how everything around us works in unison, from the soil beneath our feet to planets far away. We are all one, living different experiences but all making up the sum of all that is. We are living aspects of the Universe with the same ability to create, expand and love. Breathe in life and share love to all.

I hope you all have a weekend where your intentions are manifested beautifully.

Big love and blessings to you, Kym