Solar flare. A solar flare is a sudden, intense burst of energy from the Sun's
surface, basically, a giant explosion. The Sun is magnetically
charged, and solar flares are caused by tangles in the magnetic field lines on the Sun’s surface.
Solar flares are the largest explosive events in our solar system.
They’re classified by size, with the smallest flares called A-class, followed
by B, C, M, and X. X-class flares can create loops
a hundred times as big as Earth. Solar flares release
large amounts of radiation into space. M- and X-class flares can actually release
enough energy that they can interfere with some radio communications and satellites in Earth’s
orbit when they erupt on the Earth side of the Sun. Fortunately, our atmosphere
protects us from harm here on the ground. The Sun goes through periods of
more and less activity, and solar flares are more common during solar maximum.
At NASA, we work with our partners at NOAA to monitor the Sun and keep an eye out
for magnetic storms caused by solar flares.