Solar origins of intense geomagnetic storms in 2002 as seen by the CORONAS-F satellite.

The initiation of coronal mass ejections responsible for intense heliospheric perturbations and strong geomagnetic storms was observed by the SPIRIT (Spectro-heliographic soft X-ray imaging telescope) onboard CORONAS-F satellite. Monochromatic full Sun images in MgXII doublet 8,418 and 8,423Å revealed the appearance of the free energy releases at altitudes up to 0,4 R_⊙. Sometimes complex situations on the Sun and in the heliosphere arise. The continuous monitoring of the solar images with a time resolution of minutes could be a useful tool for "space weather" application.