related phenomenon. at calm solar surface, there’s only hydrogen and helium. these are excited thermally and can emit radiation, but the highest energy photon they can emit is ca 13eV and 52eV respectively. this is hard UV, and this is what is responsible for ionisation of ionosphere even during solar minimum, mostly F layer. but when solar flare forms, there are these giant loops of charged particles, and when charged particles change direction or brake, they release a lot of high energy radiation, that is xrays. xrays just go everywhere and this is partially what is responsible for extra ionisation of ionosphere during solar maximum, and this contributes more to E layer ionisation. when solar flare hits the earth, protons from it cause extra ionisation in D layer and this is why post-flare blackouts happen
fullsquare@awful.systems 2 months ago
related phenomenon. at calm solar surface, there’s only hydrogen and helium. these are excited thermally and can emit radiation, but the highest energy photon they can emit is ca 13eV and 52eV respectively. this is hard UV, and this is what is responsible for ionisation of ionosphere even during solar minimum, mostly F layer. but when solar flare forms, there are these giant loops of charged particles, and when charged particles change direction or brake, they release a lot of high energy radiation, that is xrays. xrays just go everywhere and this is partially what is responsible for extra ionisation of ionosphere during solar maximum, and this contributes more to E layer ionisation. when solar flare hits the earth, protons from it cause extra ionisation in D layer and this is why post-flare blackouts happen