subflare

noun

1. (rare)A small flare (explosion or light).

   “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.”

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

   “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.”