Understanding Solar Flares: The Sun’s Powerful Eruptions

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation originating from the Sun’s release of magnetic energy. They emit energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, including X-rays and gamma rays, and are classified into five categories—A, B, C, M, and X—based on their intensity. Each category represents a tenfold increase in energy output, with X-class flares being the most powerful. These flares can impact Earth by causing radio blackouts and posing risks to satellites and astronauts. The frequency of solar flares correlates with the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle, with increased occurrences during solar maximum.

Source: https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/space-weather/solar-flares/what-is-a-solar-flare