TRACE, SOHO/EIT, and SOHO/MDI Observations of AR0030, Including Rotating Sunspots and the July 15, 2002 X3.0 Flare in Ultraviolet and Extreme Ultraviolet

On July 15, 2002 TRACE and several SOHO instruments observed an X3.0 flare in AR0030 near 2000 UT. During this period TRACE was primarily observing in its 1600Å ultraviolet (UV) channel (most sensitive to temperatures around 100,000 K in the flare). The 195Å extreme ultraviolet (EUV) channel of SOHO/EIT (which is most sensitive to about 1.6 MK) will be utilized in this poster, in addition to the magnetic field measurements of SOHO/MDI during this event period. TRACE followed the active region for over 10 days, starting about 4 days before the flare. Broadband white light TRACE images of the photosphere indicate that one or more of the sunspots were rotating, a possible precursor to the flare. Images and movies of AR0030 in the various wavelengths will be shown. The flare region was so intense in the TRACE UV that it is very difficult to show both the quiescent and flaring regions, so the UV movie will focus on the flaring plasma with its 2 eruptions. In the EIT EUV, more coronal structure away from the flare can be seen. Analysis of the rotational rates of the sunspots will be given along with their possible coupling to the flare. This work was supported by NASA under contract NAS5-38099.