Solar flares

A flaring coronal loop system on the surface of the Sun

Solar flares are energetic, impulsive, magnetically triggered events on the surface of the Sun and low in the corona. A flare event may lead to Coronal Mass Ejections being expelled into interplanetary space.

Solar flares are important for Mars as they create a radiation load that can be important both for transportation to Mars and for martian settlements. Large solar flares may require the use of a radiation shelter, in particular for space transportation. On the martian surface, solar flares are part of the radiation load that governs the design of radiation shielding.

External Links

• Windows to the Universe: Solar Flares.

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