Abstract
We investigate the connections between the occurrence of major solar flares and subsurface dynamic properties of active regions. For this analysis, we select five active regions that produced a total of 11 flares with peak X-ray flux intensity higher than M5.0. The subsurface velocity fields are obtained from time–distance helioseismology analysis using SDO/HMI (Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) Doppler observations, and the X-ray flux intensity is taken from GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites). It is found that among the eight amplitude bumps in the evolutionary curves of subsurface kinetic helicity, five (62.5%) of them had a flare stronger than M5.0 occurring within 8 hours, either before or after the bumps. Another subsurface parameter is the Normalized Helicity Gradient Variance (NHGV), reflecting kinetic helicity spread in different depth layers; it also shows bumps near the occurrence of these solar flares. Although there is no one-to-one correspondence between the flare and the subsurface properties, these observational phenomena are worth further studies to better understand the flares’ subsurface roots, and to investigate whether the subsurface properties can be used for major flare forecasts.
Solar Origins of Space Weather and Space Climate
Guest Editors: I. González Hernández, R. Komm, and A. Pevtsov
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bao, S., Zhang, H.: 1998, Astrophys. J. 496, L43.
Bao, S., Ai, G., Zhang, H.: 2001, In: Brekke, P., Fleck, B., Gurman, J.B. (eds.) Recent Insights into the Physics of the Sun and Heliosphere—Highlights from SOHO and Other Space Mission, IAU Symp. 203, Astron. Soc. Pac., 247.
Gao, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, H.: 2012, Astrophys. J. Lett. 761, L9.
Hagino, M., Sakurai, T.: 2004, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 56, 831.
Komm, R.W., Howe, R., González Hernández, I., Hill, F., Haber, D., Hindman, B., Corbard, T.: 2004, In: Danesy, D. (ed.) SOHO 14 Helio- and Asteroseismology: Towards a Golden Future, ESA SP-559, ESA, Noordwijk, 520.
Komm, R., Howe, R., Hill, F., González Hernández, I., Toner, C.: 2005, Astrophys. J. 630, 1184.
Kusano, K., Maeshiro, T., Yokoyama, T., Sakurai, T.: 2004, Astrophys. J. 610, 537.
Liu, Y., Zhao, J., Schuck, P.W.: 2012, Solar Phys. doi:10.1007/s11207-012-0089-3.
Mason, D., Komm, R., Hill, F., Howe, R., Haber, D., Hindman, B.: 2006, Astrophys. J. 645, 1543.
Moon, Y.J., Chae, J., Choe, G.S., Wang, H.M., Park, Y.D., Yun, H.S., Yurchyshyn, V., Goode, P.R.: 2002, Astrophys. J. 574, 1066.
Park, S., Lee, J., Choe, G.S., Chae, J., Jeong, H., Yang, G., Jing, J., Wang, H.: 2008, Astrophys. J. 686, 1397.
Pevtsov, A.A., Canfield, R.C., Metcalf, T.R.: 1995, Astrophys. J. 440, 109.
Reinard, A.A., Henthorn, J., Komm, R., Hill, F.: 2010, Astrophys. J. Lett. 710, L121.
Sakurai, T., Hagino, M.: 2003, Adv. Space Res. 32, 1943.
Scherrer, P.H., Schou, J., Bush, R.I., Kosovichev, A.G., Bogart, R.S., Hoeksema, J.T., Liu, Y., Duvall, T.L., Jr., Zhao, J., Title, A.M., et al.: 2012, Solar Phys. 275, 207.
Schou, J., Scherrer, P.H., Bush, R.I., Wachter, R., Couvidat, S., Rabello-Soares, M.C., Bogart, R.S., Hoeksema, J.T., Liu, Y., Duvall, T.L., Jr., et al.: 2012, Solar Phys. 275, 229.
Seehafer, N.: 1990, Solar Phys. 125, 219.
Zhang, H., Sakurai, T., Pevtsov, A., Gao, Y., Xu, H., Sokoloff, D., Kuzanyan, K.: 2010, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 402, L30.
Zhao, J., Couvidat, S., Bogart, R.S., Parchevsky, K.V., Birch, A.C., Duvall, T.L. Jr., Beck, J.G., Kosovichev, A.G., Scherrer, P.H.: 2012, Solar Phys. 275, 375.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gao, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, H. (2013). A Study of Connections Between Solar Flares and Subsurface Flow Fields of Active Regions. In: González Hernández, I., Komm, R., Pevtsov, A., Leibacher, J. (eds) Solar Origins of Space Weather and Space Climate. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1182-0_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1182-0_5
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1181-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1182-0
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)