Based from reading this short passage, I believe that the authors point in this above was to practically give information above the word "solar flares". And by the author doing this, he would be giving the reader citing points of this.
Your answer: <span> It cites expert testimony about solar flares.
I would say that this would most likely be the answer mainly because when citing, this would mean that there would be an expert that would study basic needs and understanding this kind of things to understand.</span>
