The > 40-keV solar-flare electrons observed by the IMP III and Mariner IV satellites are shown to be closely correlated with solar radio and X-ray burst emission. In particular, intense type III radio bursts are observed to accompany solar electron-event flares. The energies of the electrons, the total number of electrons, and the size of the electron source at the sun can be inferred from radio observations. The characteristics of the electrons observed in interplanetary space are consistent with these radio observations. Therefore these electrons are identified as the exciting agents of the type III emission. It has been noted that the radio and X-ray bursts are part of the flash phase of flares. The observations indicate that a striking feature of the flash phase is the production of electrons of 10–100 keV energies.
Using the maximum X-ray flux ratio and X-ray background to predict solar flare class
