Explosive Solar Activity

T. Kucera, Aug 22, 2000

trace_ar_tn Active Region or Sunspot Region
Area of enhanced magnetic field on the Sun's surface.

seahorse_flare_tn Solar Flare
Intense brightening near the solar surface. Visible in almost all wavelengths of light.

lightbulb Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
A magnetic bubble of gas that erupts from the Sun, spreading out into space at over a million km/hour.

prom_19970914 Prominence
A magnetically supported structure of relatively cool gas as compared to the surrounding corona. They can erupt and often do so with CMEs.
All these increase and decrease with the 11 year cycle in the Sun's magnetic field, and can occur together or independently.

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