Flare build up: 21 May 1980
Abstract
The decaying solar active region that crossed the central meridian on May 20, 1980 at latitude S13° produced a major flare (2B/X1) at 2054 on May 21. This region was a target of the international Flare Buildup Study and was well observed. The buildup was characterized by little flare activity during two days prior to the major flare but a great deal of activity in the filament that separated the opposite magnetic polarities of the active region. Large proper motions of sunspots and magnetic fields suggest that the magnetic field was stressed prior to the flare. The immediate trigger of the flare appears to have been an eruption of new magnetic flux in the center of the active region. The new flux erupted in a configuration that decreased the net flux of the active region and contributed to the decay of the region.
Kitt Peak National Observatory is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.- Publication:
-
Advances in Space Research
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0273-1177(82)90176-4
- Bibcode:
- 1982AdSpR...2k..31H
- Keywords:
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- Magnetic Flux;
- Solar Flares;
- Solar Magnetic Field;
- Chromosphere;
- Goes Satellites;
- Solar Activity;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Physics;
- Solar X-Rays;
- Sunspots;
- Temporal Distribution;
- Solar Physics