What are Solar Flares? — Passage and Quiz

Solar flares are sudden, intense bursts of energy released from the Sun’s surface. They occur when the Sun’s magnetic fields become tangled and release a huge amount of energy in the form of light, heat, and radiation. Solar flares can last from a few minutes to several hours.

The energy released during a solar flare can be equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs exploding simultaneously. This energy is released across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays.

Solar flares are classified based on their intensity, with X-class flares being the strongest, followed by M-class and C-class flares. The most powerful solar flares can have significant effects on Earth, such as disrupting radio communications, damaging satellites, and causing power outages.

However, Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field protect us from the harmful radiation emitted by solar flares. In fact, solar flares can produce stunning auroras, as the charged particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.