New study captures Sun’s early warning signs before solar flares
Researchers using ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission data have identified pre-flare brightenings in the Sun's atmosphere. These transient events may serve as early warning signs for major solar flares.
Why it matters
Understanding solar flare precursors is critical for protecting satellite infrastructure and power grids from space weather disruptions.
In a new study, scientists have found small, short-lived brightenings in the Sun’s atmosphere that appear in the hours before a major solar flare erupts and cluster around the very spot where the flare later occurs.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, along with scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Department of Space, and other academicians.
It used simultaneous ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray observations from three payloads onboard the Aditya-L1 mission.
The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payload observed the Sun in 11 near-ultraviolet (NUV) filters, revealing different layers from the upper photosphere to the chromosphere, according to ISRO.
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