Solar flares are the most energetic explosions in the solar system.
Solar flares have a direct effect on the Earth's atmosphere.
The intense radiation from a solar flare travels to Earth in eight minutes. Long distance radio signals can be disrupted by the resulting change in the Earth's ionosphere . A satellite's orbit around the Earth can be disturbed by the enhanced drag on the satellite from the expanded atmosphere. Satellites' electronic components can be damaged. Energetic particles accelerated in solar flares that escape into interplanetary space are dangerous to astronauts and to electronic instruments in space.