The night of February 2 became record-breaking in terms of solar activity. Three flares of the highest X class were recorded in region 4366. This was reported by the Institute of Applied Geophysics (FGBU \"IPG\").
The first X1.5 flare lasted 15 minutes, the second X2.8 lasted 9 minutes, and earlier in the same area a powerful X8.1 flare occurred. Also during the night, five M-class flares, the second most powerful class, were recorded.
All these events occurred in active region 4366, where enormous reserves of energy are concentrated, manifesting themselves in the form of strong magnetic fields and electric currents caused by intense emissions of solar plasma. Flares of this level are extremely rare and can generate powerful geomagnetic disturbances if they are directed toward Earth.
According to specialists from the Institute of Applied Geophysics, these flares are occurring against the backdrop of strong activity in the center, where energy is constantly accumulating and being burned off in the form of series of strong flares and superflares. At the moment, no confirmation of an impact on Earth has been recorded.
There are no signs of any reduction in the energy reserves in the active center. Strong flares will continue. New major explosions are possible.
The Solar Astronomy Laboratory of IKI RAN and ISZF SO RAN reported that the active center will move closer to the Sun-Earth line by the end of the day. This may cause clouds of solar plasma to affect Earth and trigger magnetic storms.