Solar storm interrupts China's
short-wave radio transmission
The X 7.9-grade solar flare that occurred around 0701 GMT Thursday interrupted
short-wave radio transmissions in China, said a Chinese expert.
"It is the largest solar flare this year," said Suo Yucheng,
a noted researcher with the China Research Institute of Radio wave Propagation
(CRIRP). "Radio waves were absorbed by the strong F layer created
by the flare."
CRIRP detected wide-range suspension of short-wave radio signals in
its observation stations in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hainan, Lanzhou and Urumqi
until after 0900 GMT Thursday.
Solar flares produce a mass ejection of highly energized particles from
the sun. Thursday's flare is more intense than three previous ones on
Jan. 16, 17, and 19, all at X-grade.
X is the highest grade of the five-grade classification system, namely
the A, B, C,M and X grades.
"Solar flares may also be the factor that interrupted the communication
of China's expedition team in Antarctica with the outside world over the
past two days," acknowledged Suo. "The influence of solar flares
is even stronger in polar areas."
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