Can you determine the length of a solar flare based off of the energy level?

Solar flares are determined by a scale that has letters A, B, C, M, and X. The scale is based off of the energy output of the flare.
However, I want to know what the length of the solar flare will be. Is there a way of determining that only knowing the energy output?
Thank you!

1 Answer
Jan 30, 2018

No. The scale is based on energy because that is the important parameter (for cosmic rays).

Explanation:

The length may be a result of the energy expended, but it is not a cause. It also may be of different length depending on the trajectory of the material from the sun. Thus, flares of similar energy do not all have the same physical lengths.