What is the key timing difference when comparing the arrival of radiation from a Solar Flare versus the physical particles from a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)?
Answer
Flare radiation arrives in minutes, while CME particles take one to three days
A critical distinction in space weather forecasting is the travel time associated with different solar eruptions. Solar Flares primarily emit intense radiation (electromagnetic energy), which travels at the speed of light, meaning the effects reach Earth in roughly eight minutes. Conversely, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) involve the ejection of massive clouds of physical plasma and magnetic fields. Because these are physical objects moving slower than the speed of light, they take a substantially longer time, typically ranging from one to three days, to traverse the distance between the Sun and Earth.
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