How quickly do intense radiation bursts from Solar Flares reach Earth, and what atmospheric layer do they primarily affect?
Answer
About eight minutes, primarily affecting the ionosphere
Solar flares are described as intense bursts of radiation, which travel at the speed of light. Because the distance is relatively short, this electromagnetic radiation reaches Earth in approximately eight minutes. Upon arrival, this intense energy primarily interacts with the ionosphere, which is the upper layer of Earth's atmosphere that has been charged by solar radiation. This interaction leads to immediate, though often temporary, disruptions in radio communications because the charged particles alter the propagation characteristics of that atmospheric layer.
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