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Sun gives off solar flare Wednesday, may cause communications issues

Click to play video: 'NASA observatory records most powerful solar flare in over a decade'
NASA observatory records most powerful solar flare in over a decade
ABOVE: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has recorded a period of unusual and powerful activity from the Sun since the start of September with one solar flare the strongest on record in a decade. – Sep 13, 2017

If you had some cell phone trouble Wednesday, you might blame the sun.

LISTEN:  CKNW’s Niki Reitmayer speaks with University of Toronto astrophysicist Bryan Gaensler

“Well this is very much breaking news, but a few hours ago early this morning, the sun gave off a solar flare,” said University of Toronto astrophysicist Brian Gaensler. “That’s not too unusual, but this was an extremely large solar flare. One so big, we haven’t seen one like it in more than 10 years.”

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WATCH: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft captured in extreme ultraviolet light a M 3.6 class solar flare in 2013.

Gaensler said the huge solar flare is heading towards the earth.

“The concern here is that if the radiation from a solar flare hits the earth, it can knock out satellites, disrupt mobile phones, and other forms of communication.”

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He said it takes several hours to determine if the radiation generated by the flare impacts communications systems.

“It does take time for the particles to travel from the sun to the earth.  But if it did hit the earth, then it certainly could be disrupting communications and transmissions at a rather crucial time.”

This event is part of a geomagnetic storm that will make the aurora borealis quite spectacular Wednesday night in parts of the northern hemisphere.

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-With files from Niki Reitmayer

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