UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 31 August 2026

Solar Flare Latest News

Recently, scientists have found small, short-lived brightenings in the Sun’s atmosphere that appear in the hours before a major solar flare erupts and cluster around the very spot where the flare later occurs. 

About Solar Flare

• A solar flare is a tremendous explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in 'twisted' magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released.
• A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, lasting several minutes to hours.
• In a matter of just a few minutes, they heat the material to many millions of degrees and produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, including from radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays.
• There are five different classes of solar flares: A, B, C, M, and X;
  • X-class flares: These are the biggest; they are major events that can trigger radio blackouts around the whole world and long-lasting radiation storms in the upper atmosphere.
  • M-class flares: These are medium-sized; they generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's Polar Regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare.
  • C-class flares: These are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth. At its peak, a C-class flare is ten times less powerful than an M-class flare.
  • B-class flares: These are ten times smaller or weaker than C-class flares.
  • A-class flares: These are at least ten times less intense than B-class flares, with no noticeable consequences on Earth.
• Effect of Solar Flare on Earth
  • The intense radiation emitted during a solar flare can affect satellite communications, disrupt radio signals, and even pose a risk to astronauts in space.
  • Additionally, the increased solar radiation can lead to geomagnetic storms, which may impact power grids and cause auroras (northern and southern lights) at lower latitudes.

Source: TH