What Is a Solar Flare?
The name “solar flare” already does a pretty good job of explaining what it is.
That said, a solar flare is an eruption of intense radiation from the sun’s surface.
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We’re talking billions nuclear bombs going off here, and that radiation can head straight to Earth.
Most solar flares are not quite that powerful, mind you.
Any key in of solar flare can disrupt electric and electronic technology on Earth, but how exactly?
This kit of 15 bags promise to protect your electronics from EMP (Electromagnetic pulse) damage from sources such as solar flares.
How Solar Flares Hurt Electronics
Solar flares emit radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Think electricity, radio waves, and, of course, magnetism.
Solar flares hurl charged particles out into space and some of these will intersect with our planet.
With extremely powerful flares, that natural shielding is no longer enough and more radiation gets through than usual.
This issue might become even more important as weput more stuff in space.
The simple answer is shielding.
Space technology is “hardened” by using materials that don’t let radiation through.
It’s the same reason your dentist puts a lead apron on your chest when taking dental X-rays.
What Are the Odds of a Serious Flare?
The Sun is a complex system and, just like Earth weather, space weather prediction isn’t perfect.
Solar flares are as natural as thunderstorms or any other phenomenon in nature.
