Solar flare

X Class Solar Flare Sends ‘Shockwaves’ on The Sun (6819094556)

X3.2 Solar flare on 2013-05-14 at four wavelengths

File:SDO EVE Late Phase Flares.webm

Coronal arcade

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GOES-16 X-ray flux (1-minute data) on 2023-12-14 with flares labeled

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Carrington Richard sunspots 1859

Solar flare is a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun, usually observed near its surface and in close proximity to a sunspot group. Powerful flares are often, but not always, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection. Even the most powerful flares are barely detectable in the total solar irradiance (the "solar constant").

Solar flares affect all layers of the solar atmosphere (photosphere, chromosphere, and corona), heating plasma to tens of millions of kelvins and accelerating electrons, protons, and heavier ions near the speed of light. They produce radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum at all wavelengths, from radio waves to gamma rays. Most flares occur in active regions around sunspots, where intense magnetic fields penetrate the photosphere to link the corona to the solar interior. Flares are powered by the sudden (timescales of minutes to tens of minutes) release of magnetic energy stored in the corona.

Classification

The classification of solar flares is based on their brightness in the X-ray wavelengths. There are three categories: X, M, and C. X-class flares are the largest, with an energy equivalent to billions of hydrogen bombs. M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences on Earth.

Impact on Earth

Solar flares can have profound effects on Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and exosphere, impacting communications, navigation systems, and even power grids. Geomagnetic storms, induced by solar flares, can expand the aurora (northern and southern lights) to lower latitudes. High-energy particles from flares can also pose a hazard to astronauts and space probes.

Observation and Prediction

Observatories such as the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) satellite continuously monitor the Sun, providing valuable data for predicting solar flare activity. These observations help in understanding the Sun's magnetic field and its effects on space weather.

See Also

• Sunspot
• Coronal mass ejection
• Solar cycle
• Space weather