V. Bumba

Solar activity and recurrences in magnetic-field distribution

A study of the Mount Wilson magnetic-field synoptic chart material divided into latitude zones for the interval 1959–67, and a comparison of the data with sunspot groups have provided a better understanding of the structure of the background-field pattern and its relation to activity. The interaction of old and new fields within the pattern seems to result in long-lived sections of alternating polarity in both hemispheres. We postulate subsurface sources with rotation periods of about 27 days which produce active regions over a longitude zone of some tens of degrees. There is a tendency for the background-field features with strong fields to resist to some extent the shearing effects of differential rotation. A prediction is made concerning the nature of the interplanetary magnetic field above the ecliptic.

MAGNETIC FIELDS IN SMALL AND YOUNG SUNSPOTS.

Preliminary results of magnetic field measurements in small sunspots from spectrograms obtained with the aid of the McMath Solar Telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory are presented. The measured intensities are greater than or equal to about 1200 Gauss. Furthermore, a broadening of the Fei line λ6302.508 Å was found in some places of intergranular space. The importance of intergranular space as a possible potential earliest stage of sunspot development is mentioned.

Does the large-scale solar magnetic field distribution really reflect the convective velocity fields?

We have tried to decide whether the typical circular cellular-like features, which are striking during some intervals in the large-scale distribution of weak magnetic fields measured with low resolution, are related to large-scale convective motions. Two scales of such patterns were found and their morphological, kinematical and evolutionary behaviour was estimated. Their slower and overall rotation is also demonstrated in comparison with the rotation of highly averaged sunspot and magnetic fields. It is difficult to explain all the observed characteristics as random, or due to the method of field measurement and map construction used. We also discuss the change of their magnetic field polarities with the solar polar field reversal.

Variability of the integrated solar K line emission

ConclusionThe preliminary results presented in this note seem to demonstrate the facts that the sun observed as a star in the light of the K and H lines is variable, and that this variability is closely related to that of the magnetic field intensity, or to the distribution of magnetic fields, and hence to the distribution of calcium plages or photospheric faculae in the solar atmosphere. This variability will not so much be related to the variation of Wolfs relative sunspot numbers or to the variation of the sunspot area.The applicability of the obtained results for the examination of the late-type stars seems to be evident.

Questions concerning the existence of sympathetic flares

Earlier results concerning sympathetic flares - physically related flares occurring in different active regions practically in the same time - and time-correlated radio bursts are compared with magnetic situation in active regions with related flaring and with the history and dynamics of its development. We found observational evidence abou the reality of sympathetic flares, demonstrating also that active regions in which they appear are physically related through common dynamical elements in which the evolution of their magnetic fields goes parallel. Such a process may sometimes occupy a very large volume of the photosphere and we believe that it might be related to the large-scale convective motions.

Concerning the formation of giant regular structures in the solar atmosphere

Using the Mt. Wilson magnetic synoptic charts from the recent solar activity cycles the dynamics of the formation of giant regular structures formed in the plus (leading) polarity of older more extended magnetic fields are studied. Although their diameters are about one order greater than those of supergranules, the processes of their development go analogously to those of supergranulation and granulation.The close relation of the minus (following) polarity distribution to the new formed active regions is demonstrated and the possible different mode of distribution and different role of both opposite polarities on activity processes is discussed.

INTERPRETING THE LARGE LIMB ERUPTION OF JULY 9, 1982

A time series of K3 spectroheliograms taken at the Coimbra Observatory exhibits an erupting loop on the east limb on July 9, 1982 in active region NOAA 3804. The Goddard SMM Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer (HXRBS) observations taken during this period reveal a hard X-ray flare occurring just before the loop eruption is observed, and SMS-GOES soft X-ray observations reveal a strong long-duration event (LDE) following the impulsive phase of the flare. A Solwind coronagram exhibits a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with the erupting loop. Hα flare and prominence observations as well as centimeter and decimeter radio observations of the event are also reviewed. A large, north–south-oriented quiescent prominence reported within the upper part of the CME expansion region may play a role in the eruption as well. The spatial and temporal correlations among these observations are examined in the light of two different current models for prominence eruption and CME activation: (1) The CME is triggered by the observed hard X-ray impulsive flare. (2) The CME is not triggered by a flare, and the observed soft X-ray flare is an LDE due to reconnection within the CME ‘bubble’. It is concluded that this event is probably of a ‘mixed’ type that combines characteristics of models (1) and (2). The July 9 event is then compared to three other energetic CME and flare eruptions associated with the same active-region complex, all occurring in the period July 9 through September 4, 1982. It is noted that these four energetic events coincide with the final evolutionary phase of a long-lasting active-region complex, which is discussed in a companion paper (Bumba, Garcia, and Jordan, 1997). The paper concludes by addressing ‘the solar flare myth’ controversy in the light of this work.

Observation of solar differential rotation with the aid of magnetic tracers

We tried to search for the manifestation of differential rotation in the distribution of weak remnants of magnetic fields measured with a very low resolution. We found that, during the periods of low solar activity and in parts of the solar photosphere with smaller density of new magnetic flux sources, it was possible to observe the distribution of magnetic tracers in the form of differential rotation parabolas which increase their curvature from one rotation to the next. The obtained differential rotation rates are not far from those given by highly averaged sunspot data or by the daily magnetic fields. The characteristic differential rotation parabolas as well as specific cellular-like features disturbing their smooth patterns are always formed from fields of one main polarity, the sign of which depends on the phase of the activity cycle.

Large-scale distribution of magnetic fields, green corona and prominences during an extended activity cycle

The interrelations of the latitudinal distribution of the coronal green emission maxima, maximal numbers and areas of prominences, magnetic fields, sunspots, and polar faculae in the 20th and 21st sunspot cycles have been investigated. It is again demonstrated how the behaviour of all studied data depends on their heliographic latitude. In the polar zone, well separated from the equatorial we observe following polarity magnetic fields transported only polewards, while the equatorial zone is occupied mostly by leading polarity fields, developed there, moving equatorwards, and crossing the equator to the other hemisphere with the new cycle during the minimum of sunspot activity.This magnetic field distribution is well emphasized by the places of maximal occurrence of prominences and by the distribution of coronal green emission maxima which also differ in dependence on latitude.The question of identifying the first and last evolutionary stages of an extended cycle of activity is discussed and the existence of a magnetic activity cycle lasting 15–17 years is suggested.

THE BASIC CYCLE OF SOLAR ACTIVITY AND THE GLOBAL MAGNETIC FIELD AND ACTIVE PHENOMENA DISTRIBUTION

We have compared the latitudinal distributions of polar faculae, green coronal emission maxima, prominences and of a new index of enhanced geomagnetic recurrence with the distribution of magnetic fields during the cycles Nos. 20 and 21.We did not find a distinct high-latitude initial stage of an extended cycle in the corona, prominences and polar faculae distribution. On the contrary, it seems that the polar faculae and their following polarity magnetic fields represent the last evolutionary phase of a magnetic activity cycle lasting 15–17 years. The enhanced recurrent geomagnetic activity seems to be related to the old cycle fields.All studied phenomena clearly display two types of latitudinal distribution: the polar belts, into which the old following polarity fields have been transported from the equatorial belt where both the polarities developin situ simultaneously, but in which the leading polarity fields only remain, crossing the equator during the minimum of activity, to play the same role on the opposite hemispheres in the new cycle.