Abstract
We present a study of the evolution of NOAA AR 7205 in the photosphere and corona, including an analysis of sunspot motions, and show the evolutionary aspects of flare activity using full-disc white-light observations from Debrecen, vector magnetograms from Mees Observatory, Hawaii, and Yohkoh soft X-ray observations. NOAA AR 7205 was born on the disc on 18 June, 1992. During the first 3 days it consisted of intermittent minor spots. A vigorous evolution started on 21 June when, through the emergence and merging (v ≈ 100–150 m s-1) of several bipoles, a major bipolar sunspot group was formed. Transverse magnetic fields and currents indicated the presence of shear (clockwise twist) already on 21 June (with α ≈ 0.015 Mm-1). On 23 June, new flux emerged in the trailing part of the region with the new negative polarity spot situated very close to the big positive polarity trailing spot of the main bipole. The secondary bipole seemed to emerge with high non-potentality (currents). From that time the AR became the site of recurrent flare activity. We find that all 14 flares observed with the Yohkoh satellite occurred between the highly sheared new bipole and the double-headed principal bipole. Currents observed in the active region became stronger and more extended with time. We propose that the currents have been (i) induced by sunspot motions and (ii) increased by non-potential flux emergence leading to the occurrence of energetic flares (X1.8 and X3.9). This observation underlines the importance of flare analysis in the context of active region evolution.
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Van Driel-Gesztelti, L., Csepura, G., Schmieder, B. et al. EVOLUTION OF A DELTA GROUP IN THE PHOTOSPHERE AND CORONA. Solar Physics 172, 151–160 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004975212949
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004975212949