Taking advantage of 11 different databases, we use statistical analysis to probe the nature of photospheric magnetic structures. We find evidence of two separate mechanisms at play, and propose that they are directly connected to the global and small-scale components of the solar dynamo.
By synthesizing the results of photospheric field change indicated by HMI observations and coronal field variation suggested by the NLFFF modeling, we study the flare-related 3D magnetic restructuring and find it consistent with the coronal implosion scenario in the low solar atmosphere.
The STARA catalog of sunspot properties from the SOHO/MDI and SDO/HMI data is presented and discussed. For STARA, an automated detection algorithm is employed to compile the first sunspot record from space-based instruments. This catalog is publicly available at http://www.nso.edu/staff/fwatson/STARA.
We attempt to forecast M- and X-class solar flares using a support vector machine algorithm and 4 years of HMI vector magnetic field data. With the true skill statistic as the preferred metric to estimate the algorithm performances, we obtain good predictive abilities. This may be partly due to fine-tuning the algorithm for this purpose, and to a choice of 13 SHARP parameters obtained from vector magnetograms.
The magnetic field of active region NOAA 11092 shows a persistent counter-clockwise twist in the solar atmosphere from the photosphere to the corona. The subsurface flows associated with this region are twisted in the opposite direction.
Combining the outstanding capability of HMI/SDO and NST/BBSO, we studied two rarely observed three-ribbon flares. The flaring site is characterized with an intriguing “fish-bone”-like morphology. These results are discussed in favor of reconnection along the coronal null-line.
Subsurface meridional flow speed shows an anti-correlation with the magnetic flux being transported poleward above the latitude of 35°. In the lower latitude, the residual meridional flow, after a long-time mean profile is subtracted, shows converging flow toward the activity belts.
The Lorentz force acting on the solar atmosphere is useful for diagnosing the eruption dynamics. It is now available as a routine data product.
The statistical analysis of flow fields in and around sunspots indicates a distinct nature of the moat and Evershed flows.
Bertello and collaborators at NSO have made a first attempt to estimate some of the uncertainties in magnetic synoptic maps and evaluated their impact on coronal and heliospheric models. They found that accounting for the statistical uncertainties arising from the distribution of image pixels contributing to each bin in the synoptic map may produce a noticeable change in the results obtained from these models.