Final answer:
An explosive event occurring in or near an active region on the sun is a solar flare, a sudden burst of electromagnetic radiation. Coronal mass ejections are a related phenomenon involving the release of solar material into space. Solar wind and solar prominences are different types of solar activity, not explosive events.
Step-by-step explanation:
An explosive event occurring in or near an active region on the sun is a solar flare. A solar flare is a sudden and temporary outburst of electromagnetic radiation from an extended region of the Sun's surface. With these flares often occurring around sunspot groups, they are capable of releasing immense amounts of energy equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs, and can last from minutes to several hours.
Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are related but distinct phenomena where immense quantities of coronal material, mainly protons and electrons, are ejected at high speeds into interplanetary space. Both solar flares and CMEs are associated with high solar activity, including increased sunspots and occurrences in active regions of the Sun.
The solar wind is a continuous flow of hot, charged particles leaving the Sun, which should not be confused with the more explosive solar flares or CMEs. Similarly, solar prominences, while also related to solar activity, are large cloud-like structures rather than explosive events.