subflare

English

Etymology

From sub- +‎ flare.

Noun

subflare (plural subflares)

1. (astronomy, rare) A small flare (explosion or light).
   • 1953, Gerard P. Kuiper, The Sun‎^[1], The University of Chicago Press, page 701:

     We have included in our program of measurement examples of brightenings for which the maximum intensity did not exceed twice the intensity of the undisturbed Ha background (0.64 times that of the continuous spectrum). These small brightenings should probably be thought of as “‘subflares” or flares of importance 1— or less.

   • 1957, Hearings 1957-05-01‎^[2], Superintendent of Government Documents, page 54:

     It was found that large flares were reliably detected by small subflares only occasionally.

   • 1959, Siegfried Flügge, Astrophysics the Solar System Volume Encyclopedia of Physics: Volume LII (52)‎^[3], Springer Verlag, page 311:

     They occur more often, are intenser and last longer at metre wavelengths than at shorter wavelengths. In the centimetre wave region they are virtually only observed when a flare or subflare is in progress.

   • 1970, Nuclear Science Abstracts 1970-01-31: Volume 24, Issue 2‎^[4], Superintendent of Government Documents, page 323:

     Solar circumstances have been evaluated for January 28, 1967, the date of an observed ground level enhancement of cosmic rays which was not preceded by observation of a suitably great Ha flare. On the visible solar hemisphere, a bright subflare at S23°E19° occurred in appropriate time association with the cosmic-ray event, and was accompanied by weak x-ray enhancement and radiofrequency emission. If this flare, alone, or in combination with other minor flares observed on the visible hemisphere on January 28 was the source of the energetic cosmic rays recorded on that date, then current thinking regarding the characteristics of cosmic-ray flares must be modified. An initial study of probable circumstances on the invisible hemisphere did not lead to the immediate recognition of a major center of activity as the probable source of a cosmic-ray flare.