päikesepurded

Päikesepurded, also known as solar flares, are sudden, intense bursts of radiation directed outward from the Sun's surface. These energetic events are associated with the Sun's magnetic field, which becomes twisted and stressed, eventually snapping and releasing stored energy. This energy is then converted into electromagnetic radiation across the entire spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays.

The visible manifestation of a solar flare is often a bright flash near a sunspot, which are temporary phenomena on the Sun's photosphere that appear as dark spots compared to surrounding areas. Sunspots are regions of concentrated magnetic flux. Flares can vary greatly in their intensity and duration, with the most powerful events being classified using a letter system (A, B, C, M, and X) based on their X-ray output.

While solar flares themselves are primarily bursts of electromagnetic radiation, they can be accompanied by other phenomena, such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). CMEs are massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona. When CMEs are directed towards Earth, they can cause significant space weather effects. These effects can include disruptions to satellite operations, radio communication blackouts, and even damage to power grids. The aurora borealis and aurora australis, commonly known as the Northern and Southern Lights, are also a beautiful consequence of particles from solar activity interacting with Earth's atmosphere.