Confirmed: Multiple Active Regions Turned to Earth, Solar Activity Ramps Up

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January 20, 2023

By National Solar Observatory

UPDATE: January 20, 2023

GONG’s early detection of farside active regions were correct; solar activity ramped up this week as regions emerged into view on January 13, 2023

The National Science Foundation Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) is a global network of solar telescopes that continuously monitor the Sun, and recently, it correctly predicted the approximate location of active regions on the farside of the Sun. On Friday, January 13, 2023, the detected regions emerged on the Sun’s East Limb and rotated into view from Earth. As expected, these active regions brought a series of explosive solar events including several M- and C-class flares this week.

The GONG facility based in Cerro Tololo, Chile, produced magnetograms showing the Sun’s active regions (circled) emerging from the East Limb (January 13, 2023) and rotating into an Earth-facing direction. Magnetograms help scientists identify regions of strong magnetic fields where solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other solar phenomena are likely to occur. CR: NSF/AURA/NSO

The active regions are enormous. Identified as NOAA 13190, 13191 and 13192, the regions span the Sun’s North and South hemispheres. They have already put on a violent display of solar flares, but luckily, as of now, none of these pose a significant danger to Earth beyond the few minor radio blackouts that were associated with M-class flares. These regions have produced coronal mass ejections, but we have yet to see one that is Earth-directed which can disrupt Earth’s critical infrastructure like power grids and satellite communications. 

Video Caption: Six GONG facilities strategically located around the world provide us with near 24-hour observations of the Sun. Data from the Australia and Chile sites produced an amazing view of these active regions from January 13-18, 2023. Intermittent, bright flashes are the results of solar flares. Sunspots, which appear as dark spots, are regions of intense magnetic activity where flares and explosions originate. Credit: NSF/AURA/NSO courtesy of N. Oien.

To put these images into perspective, the largest sunspot, AR13190, is nearly 5 times the size of Earth! You can see AR13190 at the end of the video near the Sun’s center. Or you can safely see it for yourself if you have eclipse-rated glasses or a personal solar telescope (please don’t look at the Sun without having equipment that is certified to do so!)

“GONG’s farside imaging gave us about a 2-week heads-up that two large active regions would soon appear on the Earth-side of the Sun, increasing the potential for large flares and other solar activity that could negatively impact Earth,” said Dr. Alexei Pevtsov, NSO Associate Director of the NSO Integrated Synoptic Program (NISP) that operates GONG, “It’s like getting an early warning of possible freezing temperatures in Spring – the weather forecast may have some large uncertainties, but one could start preparing to take mitigating actions to save their flowering orchard from freezing.”

The active regions are expected to remain Earth-facing through January 25, 2023, before slipping away from sight behind the Sun’s West limb. GONG’s unique ability to use helioseismic holography to detect active regions on the farside of the Sun remains an important tool in studying solar activity and providing data to develop solar prediction models. Dr. Kiran Jain leads research on farside imaging at NISP. 

The ramped up solar activity is expected to continue as we progress through the current Solar Cycle 25 until reaching the predicted solar maximum in 2025.



Posted: January 10, 2023

Solar activity will remain high throughout the next couple of weeks with a pair of significantly large active regions returning to view in about three days, according to scientists at the National Science Foundation’s Global Oscillation Network Group, or GONG. Labeled NOAA 13169 and NOAA 13170, the regions are returning to view after completing their backside transit of the Sun.

Active regions on the Sun labeled NOAA 13169 and NOAA 13170 (marked by the arrow) will reappear on the east limb of the Sun in a couple of days.  The visible and invisible hemispheres of the Sun are represented by grayscale and black background, respectively. The Sun is now in year 4 of Solar Cycle 25 with solar activity increasing as solar maximum approaches in 2024.

Active regions on the Sun labeled NOAA 13169 and NOAA 13170 (marked by the arrow) will reappear on the east limb of the Sun in a couple of days.  The visible and invisible hemispheres of the Sun are represented by grayscale and black background, respectively. The Sun is now in year 4 of Solar Cycle 25 with solar activity increasing as solar maximum approaches in 2024. Credit: NSO/AURA/NSF.

The strength of the measurements suggest a great potential for violent solar events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. These space weather events interact with Earth’s protective magnetic field not only producing beautiful aurorae in Earth’s high latitudes but also could have damaging effects on modern technologies, such as electrical power grids, telecommunications, air transportation, GPS navigation and space activities.

At present, three big active regions are present on the Earth-facing side of the Sun’s southern hemisphere. These regions produced many high-energetic flares in the last several days and will rotate toward the backside of the Sun.

NSF GONG data showing the far side active regions, NOAA 13169 and NOAA 13170, from December 10, 2022-January 09, 2022. Credit: NSO/AURA/NSF

Click to play: NSF GONG data showing the far side active regions, NOAA 13169 and NOAA 13170, from December 10, 2022-January 09, 2022. Credit: NSF/AURA/NSO

Scientists detect active regions on the unseen, farside of the Sun using a technique known as helioseismic holography. The Sun rings like a bell with sound waves propagating inside the Sun. These sound waves help scientists at the National Solar Observatory which manages the GONG network infer conditions beneath the solar surface. Looking for differences in intensity and timing of these sound waves, scientists can identify otherwise invisible regions of high magnetic fields. The sound waves bouncing through the inside of the Sun and reflecting back carry all the information needed to create maps of the Sun’s farside. The sound waves allow scientists to “see” the location of strong active regions on the far side of the Sun, providing a glimpse into the locations of strong active regions on the far side of the Sun.

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