solar flare

noun

, Astronomy.

1. flare ( def 22 ).

solar flare

noun

1. a brief powerful eruption of particles and intense electromagnetic radiation from the sun's surface, associated with sunspots and causing disturbances to radio communication on earth Sometimes shortened toflare See also solar wind

solar flare

1. A sudden eruption of hydrogen gas in the chromosphere of the Sun, usually associated with sunspots. Solar flares may last between several hours and several days, and have temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 million degrees K. The energy of a solar flare, which consists primarily of charged particles and x-rays, is comparable to tens of millions of hydrogen bombs, but is less than one-tenth the total energy emitted by the Sun every second. First observed in 1859, solar flares dramatically affect the Sun's weather and the solar wind, and are correlated with the appearance of auroras on the Earth.
2. See also prominence

Word History and Origins

Origin of solar flare¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

It was a solar flare, starting somewhere deep inside of him and growing into a full-blown emoji.

From Los Angeles Times

Activity on the Sun has remained high since one of the largest solar flares in seven years last week.

From BBC

The X9 solar flare emitted is the largest categorised by Nasa.

From BBC

The sun’s intense magnetic energy is the source of solar flares and eruptions of plasma known as coronal mass ejections.

From Seattle Times

The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma.

From Seattle Times