What is a solar flare?
Q: What is a solar flare?
A: A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun's surface. It is a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy, which is about a sixth of the total energy that is released from the Sun each second equal to 160,000,000,000 megatons of TNT.
Q: How does a solar flare affect the atmosphere?
A: Solar flares affect all layers of the solar atmosphere such as the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. Solar flares produce radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum at all wavelengths from radio waves to gamma rays. X-rays and UV radiation that is released by solar flares can also affect Earth's ionosphere.
Q: How often do solar flares occur?
A: Solar flares can be "active" from several flares a day or "quiet" from several flares every week. They usually occur during an 11-year cycle (the solar cycle). There are less "large flares" than smaller ones.
Q: Who was the first person to observe a solar flare?
A: Richard Christopher Carrington was the first person to observe a solar flare in 1859 when he spotted brightenings of small areas within a sunspot group.
Q: Are stellar flares similar to solar flares?
A: Yes, stellar flares have also been observed on several other stars and are similar phenomena as those seen with Solar Flares.
Q: Is it possible for humans to see these events with their own eyes?
A: No, most of the energy goes outside our range so most of these events cannot be seen by humans without special instruments.
