Question
Compare and contrast prominences, flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the table
below.
Answer
| Feature | Prominences | Flares | CMEs |
|---------|-------------|--------|-------|
| Location | Above the Sun's surface | On the Sun's surface | Ejected from the Sun's corona |
| Appearance | Large, bright loops of plasma | Sudden, intense bursts of radiation | Expanding clouds of plasma |
| Duration | Can last for days or weeks | Typically last for minutes to hours | Can last for several days |
| Effects | Can cause interference with radio communication | Can cause radio blackouts and radiation storms | Can cause geomagnetic storms and auroras |
| Triggered by | Magnetic fields | Magnetic fields | Magnetic fields |
| Associated with | Active regions on the Sun | Sunspots and active regions | Coronal holes and active regions |