The biggest flares are as powerful as billions of hydrogen
bombs exploding at the same time! We still don’t know
what triggers them or how they release so much energy in
such a short time. Solar flares have a direct effect on the
Earth’s upper atmosphere. For instance, long distance radio
communications can be disrupted by the effect of flares on
the Earth’s ionosphere. In addition, energetic particles
accelerated in solar flares that escape into interplanetary
space are dangerous
to astronauts outside
the protection of the
Earth’s magnetic field
and to electronic
instruments in space. Understanding solar flares can aid in
understanding energetic events throughout the Universe.
move towards the surface of the Sun and emit X rays and
gamma rays as they slow down. Also, gas in the solar
atmosphere is heated to temperatures as high as 100 million
degrees Celsius. This heated gas emits X rays as well. Flares
produce all forms of electromagnetic radiation, from radio
waves and visible light to X rays and gamma rays.