The Sun has many different layers some of which dramatically impact the Earth both positively and negatively.
Solar FlaresSolar flares are sudden, intense explosions that result in changes in brightness when magnetic energy is released near sunspots.
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Impacts of Solar Flares on Earth
- Charged particles released by solar flares are often detected in Earth’s atmosphere. The energy released from solar flares can cause damage to the International Space Station, disrupt radio and electrical transmissions on Earth, and cause auroras. Auroras are spectacular displays of bright lights that appear to “dance” in the skies near the North and South Poles.
Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
Every so often, the Sun burps, with the power of 20 million nuclear bombs. These hiccups are known as coronal mass ejections or CMEs, a large cloud of energetic and highly magnetized plasma (charged particles) that erupts from the corona out into space. CMEs can cause radio and magnetic disturbances on the Earth and eject billions of tons of coronal material out into space much stronger than any normal solar wind strength. |
Auroras
An aurora is a colorful light show in the sky caused by the Sun. Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole. Auroras are also sometimes called the northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, or aurora australis.
The colors most often associated with the aurora borealis are pink, green, yellow, blue, violet, and occasionally orange and white. Typically, when the particles collide with oxygen, yellow and green are produced. Interactions with nitrogen produce red, violet, and occasionally blue colors.
Solar Flare vs. Prominence
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Topic Tips
- Solar flares are sudden, intense explosions that release magnetic energy into space.
- Coronal mass ejections are a large cloud of energetic and highly magnetized plasma (charged particles) that erupts from the corona out into space, that can cause radio and magnetic disturbances on the Earth.
- Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky.