Using AIA, RHESSI, EVE, and CDS Observations to Investigate the Temperature-Dependent Response of the Solar Atmosphere to Flares

We combine SDO/AIA multi-channel EUV images obtained during GOES B, C, and M-class flares with EVE spectra, RHESSI hard X-ray observations, and/or CDS rapid cadence EUV stare spectra to investigate the temperature- dependent response of solar active region atmospheres to flare energy input. In particular we investigate temperature-dependent differences in flare onset times based on emission from plasma temperatures that range from 0.05 MK to 20 MK. Preliminary results from observations of a GOES B4.8 flare that occurred in AR 11092 on 31 July 2010 reveal no significant onset time differences among the various AIA wavebands, with all of the AIA light curves revealing a precursor-like brightening that began 6 minutes before the start of the flare was observed with either GOES or RHESSI, and a rapid, impulsive rise that began about 1 minute before the flare was observed with GOES or RHESSI. Similar behavior is observed in a secondary burst that occurred at a different spatial location during the same small flare. Preliminary results based on observations of a GOES M1.0 flare that occurred in AR 11093 on 7 August 2010 again reveal simultaneous early brightenings in all of the AIA channels, but in this case we note subsequent decreases in the 211 and 335 Angstrom emission at several locations after the flare was already well developed, and while it showed increasing emission in the 94 and 131 Angstrom channels. This work is supported by NASA grant NNX10AC08G.