Which of the following notes would be most relevant if you were researching the effects of solar flares?
A. Solar flares occur often at the height of the cycle.
B. Communication systems can be disrupted.
C. Solar flares occur almost every 11 years.
D. Radio waves and gamma rays are types of radiation.


When built-up energy is released from the Sun, it causes a bright spot to suddenly appear on the Sun’s surface. These bright spots are what scientists call a solar flare. When energy is released in this manner, high-energy particles are also heated and discharged into the Sun’s outermost atmosphere.
The first time a solar flare was observed was on September 1, 1859. Scientists Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson had been both looking at sunspots on their own. They noticed some of the sunspots brightened. After this discovery, scientists observed that the solar flares occurred in roughly an 11-year period. When the Sun’s cycle reached its height, the number of detected solar flares increased.
Even though solar flares stay near the Sun, they impact the space around the Sun. A solar flare can release radiation that can come in such forms as radio waves and gamma rays. A solar flare poses a threat to astronauts out in space because it can expose them to high levels of radiation. It can also damage space equipment. On Earth, radiation can disrupt the radio communication from satellites. The extra currents of energy that reach Earth can overheat power lines. This, in turn, will affect power grids around the world.