CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-class solar flares and a 5% chance of X-flares today. The most likely source would be sunspot AR1613, which has an unstable magnetic field. Because AR1613 is directly facing Earth, any eruptions from the active region will almost certainly be geoeffective.
The Classification of X-ray Solar
Flares
or "Solar Flare Alphabet Soup"
or "Solar Flare Alphabet Soup"
A solar flare is an
explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields
(usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Flares produce a burst of
radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and
gamma-rays. [more
information]
Scientists classify
solar flares according to their x-ray brightness in the wavelength range 1 to 8
Angstroms. There are 3 categories: X-class flares are big; they are major
events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation
storms. M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio
blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes
follow an M-class flare. Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class
flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth.
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