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Post-eruptive loops in the wake of a solar flare, image taken by the TRACE satellite (photo by NASA). In solar physics, a solar particle event (SPE), also known as a solar energetic particle event or solar radiation storm, [a] [1] is a solar phenomenon which occurs when particles emitted by the Sun, mostly protons, become accelerated either in the Sun's atmosphere during a solar flare or in ...
A solar flare is a relatively intense, localized emission of electromagnetic radiation in the Sun's atmosphere. Flares occur in active regions and are often, but not always, accompanied by coronal mass ejections, solar particle events, and other eruptive solar phenomena. The occurrence of solar flares varies with the 11-year solar cycle.
Solar energetic particles (SEP), formerly known as solar cosmic rays, are high-energy, charged particles originating in the solar atmosphere and solar wind. They consist of protons , electrons and heavy ions with energies ranging from a few tens of keV to many GeV .
A "severe" solar storm could make the northern lights visible in the U.S. farther south than usual while also posing the potential to disrupt modern technology, according to the National Oceanic ...
Earth formed around 4.54 billion years ago [2] [3] [4] by accretion from the solar nebula. Volcanic outgassing probably created the primordial atmosphere, which contained almost no oxygen and would have been toxic to humans and most modern life. Much of the Earth was molten because of frequent collisions with other bodies which led to extreme ...
Solar particles interact with Earth's magnetosphere. Sizes not to scale. A solar proton event (SPE), or "proton storm", occurs when particles (mostly protons) emitted by the Sun become accelerated either close to the Sun during a flare or in interplanetary space by CME shocks. The events can include other nuclei such as helium ions and HZE ions ...
The frequency of ejections depends on the phase of the solar cycle: from about 0.2 per day near the solar minimum to 3.5 per day near the solar maximum. [37] However, the peak CME occurrence rate is often 6–12 months after sunspot number reaches its maximum.
However, a small number of solar events produce charged particles which are able to penetrate these layers, causing an air shower. This particle shower reaches ground level, where effects are measured, leading to the name "Ground Level Enhancement". These effects are usually measured as elevated levels of neutrons and muons. [2]