Issue |
A&A
Volume 691, November 2024
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A3 | |
Number of page(s) | 14 | |
Section | The Sun and the Heliosphere | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202451428 | |
Published online | 25 October 2024 |
Global and local dynamics of X-flare-producing active regions during solar cycle 25 peak phase
1
High Altitude Observatory, NSF-NCAR, 3080 Center Green Dr, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, R. do Matão, 1226, Sao Paulo, 05508-090 SP, Brazil
3
National Solar Observatory, 3665 Discovery Dr, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
4
Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, 452 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-4085, USA
5
Lynker Space, Lynker 5445 Conestoga Ct Ste 100, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
⋆ Corresponding author; brenorfs@gmail.com
Received:
9
July
2024
Accepted:
21
August
2024
Context. The configuration of the longitudinally elongated region that active regions (ARs) cluster around, known as a toroid belt, has been shown to be an indicator of intense activity. In particular, complex ARs at locations in the north and/or south toroids tend to appear “tipped-away” with respect to each other. On the other hand, magnetic helicity has been used as an indicator of flare activity in ARs.
Aims. As solar cycle (SC) 25 approaches its peak, a number of significant (X-class) flares have been produced. Here, we investigate the circumstances surrounding two of the most flare-prolific ARs of solar cycle 25, namely, ARs 13590 and 13514. Two aspects of the evolution of these ARs are investigated in this work: the global-scale magnetic toroid configuration and small-scale magnetic field morphology and topology – before, during, and after the onset of major flares.
Methods. We studied the global morphology of the solar magnetic fields near intense flares in terms of the spatial distribution of ARs on magnetic fields synoptic maps. On AR scales, we analyzed the magnetic helicity accumulation, as well as its current-carrying and potential components.
Results. Our results are consistent with major flare-prolific ARs from solar cycles 23 and 24. In particular, we observe a consistent dominance of current-carrying magnetic helicity at the time of major flares. The evolution of global magnetic toroids, indicating the occurrence of flare-prolific ARs in the tipped-away portion of the toroid, together with the local dynamics of complex ARs, could offer a few weeks of lead time to prepare for upcoming space weather hazards.
Key words: Sun: activity / Sun: flares / Sun: magnetic fields / sunspots
© The Authors 2024
Open Access article, published by EDP Sciences, under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This article is published in open access under the Subscribe to Open model. Subscribe to A&A to support open access publication.
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.