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Title: Statistical study of free magnetic energy and flare productivity of solar active regions

Abstract

Photospheric vector magnetograms from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory are utilized as the boundary conditions to extrapolate both nonlinear force-free and potential magnetic fields in solar corona. Based on the extrapolations, we are able to determine the free magnetic energy (FME) stored in active regions (ARs). Over 3000 vector magnetograms in 61 ARs were analyzed. We compare FME with the ARs' flare index (FI) and find that there is a weak correlation (<60%) between FME and FI. FME shows slightly improved flare predictability relative to the total unsigned magnetic flux of ARs in the following two aspects: (1) the flare productivity predicted by FME is higher than that predicted by magnetic flux and (2) the correlation between FI and FME is higher than that between FI and magnetic flux. However, this improvement is not significant enough to make a substantial difference in time-accumulated FI, rather than individual flare, predictions.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102-1982 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22356578
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 788; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; CORRELATIONS; EXTRAPOLATION; FORECASTING; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MAGNETIC FLUX; MAGNETIC PROPERTIES; NONLINEAR PROBLEMS; SOLAR CORONA; SOLAR FLARES; SUN

Citation Formats

Su, J. T., Jing, J., Wang, S., Wang, H. M., and Wiegelmann, T., E-mail: sjt@bao.ac.cn. Statistical study of free magnetic energy and flare productivity of solar active regions. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/150.
Su, J. T., Jing, J., Wang, S., Wang, H. M., & Wiegelmann, T., E-mail: sjt@bao.ac.cn. Statistical study of free magnetic energy and flare productivity of solar active regions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/150
Su, J. T., Jing, J., Wang, S., Wang, H. M., and Wiegelmann, T., E-mail: sjt@bao.ac.cn. 2014. "Statistical study of free magnetic energy and flare productivity of solar active regions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/150.
@article{osti_22356578,
title = {Statistical study of free magnetic energy and flare productivity of solar active regions},
author = {Su, J. T. and Jing, J. and Wang, S. and Wang, H. M. and Wiegelmann, T., E-mail: sjt@bao.ac.cn},
abstractNote = {Photospheric vector magnetograms from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory are utilized as the boundary conditions to extrapolate both nonlinear force-free and potential magnetic fields in solar corona. Based on the extrapolations, we are able to determine the free magnetic energy (FME) stored in active regions (ARs). Over 3000 vector magnetograms in 61 ARs were analyzed. We compare FME with the ARs' flare index (FI) and find that there is a weak correlation (<60%) between FME and FI. FME shows slightly improved flare predictability relative to the total unsigned magnetic flux of ARs in the following two aspects: (1) the flare productivity predicted by FME is higher than that predicted by magnetic flux and (2) the correlation between FI and FME is higher than that between FI and magnetic flux. However, this improvement is not significant enough to make a substantial difference in time-accumulated FI, rather than individual flare, predictions.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/150},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22356578}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 788,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}