Recently the Sun released an X-class flare with a coronal mass ejection heading right towards our planet. Now experts say the solar storm was so strong it was even felt at the bottom of the ocean.
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00:00 [Music]
00:03 Recently the Sun released an X-class flare with a coronal mass ejection
00:07 heading right towards our planet. The resulting solar storm caused
00:10 communications disruptions in the southern hemisphere,
00:13 but it also produced gorgeous auroras in areas that never get to see them.
00:17 Now experts say the solar storm was so strong it was even felt
00:20 at the bottom of the ocean. Ocean Networks Canada, an ocean monitoring
00:24 organization, say they recorded a significant reading via their magnetic
00:28 compasses on the sea floor. Those readings were captured at depths of
00:32 around 1.7 miles, with one of the researchers saying about
00:35 the anomaly, quote, "I looked into whether it was potentially an earthquake, but
00:39 that didn't make a lot of sense because the changes in the data were
00:42 lasting for too long and concurrently at different locations."
00:45 They then looked into solar flares, knowing that the Sun had been so active,
00:49 and the readings coincided. When the next solar flare struck Earth just a few days
00:53 later, they recorded the same needle wobble on
00:55 their instruments, confirming their suspicions. Experts say
00:59 this has resulted in new tools for the measuring of solar activity
01:02 and its effects on our planet.