The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region
The occurrence of X-class solar flares and their potential impact on space weather often receive greater attention than other flares. But predicting when and where an X-class flare will occur is still a challenge. With the multiwavelength observation from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and FengYun-3...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf836 |
| _version_ | 1797404133671567360 |
|---|---|
| author | Qiao Song Jing-Song Wang Xiaoxin Zhang Hechao Chen Shuhong Yang Zhenyong Hou Yijun Hou Qian Ye Peng Zhang Xiuqing Hu Jinping Dun Weiguo Zong Xianyong Bai Bo Chen Lingping He Kefei Song |
| author_facet | Qiao Song Jing-Song Wang Xiaoxin Zhang Hechao Chen Shuhong Yang Zhenyong Hou Yijun Hou Qian Ye Peng Zhang Xiuqing Hu Jinping Dun Weiguo Zong Xianyong Bai Bo Chen Lingping He Kefei Song |
| author_sort | Qiao Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The occurrence of X-class solar flares and their potential impact on space weather often receive greater attention than other flares. But predicting when and where an X-class flare will occur is still a challenge. With the multiwavelength observation from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and FengYun-3E satellite, we investigate the triggering of a GOES X1.0 flare occurring in the NOAA active region (AR) 12887. Our results show that this unique X-class flare is bred in a relatively small but complex quadrupolar AR. Before the X-class flare, two filaments (F1 and F2) exist below a null-point topology of the quadrupolar AR. Magnetic field extrapolation and observation reveal that F1 and F2 correspond to two magnetic flux ropes with the same chirality and that their adjacent feet are respectively rooted at nonconjugated opposite polarities. Interestingly, these two polarities collide rapidly, accompanied by photospheric magnetic flux emergence, cancellation, and shear motion in the AR center. Above this site, F1 and F2 subsequently intersect with each other and merge into a longer filament (F3) via a tether-cutting-like reconnection process. As a result, F3 rises and erupts upward, eventually leading to a coronal mass ejection and the X-class flare. This observation suggests that the rapid collision of nonconjugated opposite polarities provides a key condition for the triggering of this X-class flare and also provides a featured case for a flare trigger mechanism and space weather forecasting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:50:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b05d1de3100743beb6f93e612d7b44eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:50:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-b05d1de3100743beb6f93e612d7b44eb2023-12-05T13:24:05ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-0195915310.3847/1538-4357/acf836The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active RegionQiao Song0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3568-445XJing-Song Wang1Xiaoxin Zhang2Hechao Chen3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7866-4358Shuhong Yang4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6565-3251Zhenyong Hou5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4804-5673Yijun Hou6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9534-1638Qian Ye7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3605-6244Peng Zhang8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-1389Xiuqing Hu9Jinping Dun10Weiguo Zong11Xianyong Bai12https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2686-9153Bo Chen13Lingping He14Kefei Song15Key Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Yunnan Key Laboratory of the Solar Physics and Space Science , Kunming 650216, People's Republic of China; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaYunnan Key Laboratory of the Solar Physics and Space Science , Kunming 650216, People's Republic of China; School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University , Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China ; hechao.chen@ynu.edu.cnNational Astronomical Observatories , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, People's Republic of ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University , Beijing 100871, People's Republic of ChinaNational Astronomical Observatories , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaInnovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Radiometric Calibration and Validation for Environmental Satellites, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaInnovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Radiometric Calibration and Validation for Environmental Satellites, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Weather, National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Center for Space Weather) , China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China ; wangjs@cma.gov.cn, xxzhang@cma.gov.cn; Innovation Center for FengYun Meteorological Satellite (FYSIC) , Beijing 100081, People's Republic of ChinaNational Astronomical Observatories , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of ChinaChangchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of ChinaChangchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of ChinaChangchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130033, People's Republic of ChinaThe occurrence of X-class solar flares and their potential impact on space weather often receive greater attention than other flares. But predicting when and where an X-class flare will occur is still a challenge. With the multiwavelength observation from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and FengYun-3E satellite, we investigate the triggering of a GOES X1.0 flare occurring in the NOAA active region (AR) 12887. Our results show that this unique X-class flare is bred in a relatively small but complex quadrupolar AR. Before the X-class flare, two filaments (F1 and F2) exist below a null-point topology of the quadrupolar AR. Magnetic field extrapolation and observation reveal that F1 and F2 correspond to two magnetic flux ropes with the same chirality and that their adjacent feet are respectively rooted at nonconjugated opposite polarities. Interestingly, these two polarities collide rapidly, accompanied by photospheric magnetic flux emergence, cancellation, and shear motion in the AR center. Above this site, F1 and F2 subsequently intersect with each other and merge into a longer filament (F3) via a tether-cutting-like reconnection process. As a result, F3 rises and erupts upward, eventually leading to a coronal mass ejection and the X-class flare. This observation suggests that the rapid collision of nonconjugated opposite polarities provides a key condition for the triggering of this X-class flare and also provides a featured case for a flare trigger mechanism and space weather forecasting.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf836Space weatherSolar active regionsSolar magnetic fieldsSolar filamentsSolar flares |
| spellingShingle | Qiao Song Jing-Song Wang Xiaoxin Zhang Hechao Chen Shuhong Yang Zhenyong Hou Yijun Hou Qian Ye Peng Zhang Xiuqing Hu Jinping Dun Weiguo Zong Xianyong Bai Bo Chen Lingping He Kefei Song The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region The Astrophysical Journal Space weather Solar active regions Solar magnetic fields Solar filaments Solar flares |
| title | The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region |
| title_full | The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region |
| title_fullStr | The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region |
| title_short | The Triggering Process of an X-class Solar Flare on a Small Quadrupolar Active Region |
| title_sort | triggering process of an x class solar flare on a small quadrupolar active region |
| topic | Space weather Solar active regions Solar magnetic fields Solar filaments Solar flares |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf836 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qiaosong thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT jingsongwang thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xiaoxinzhang thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT hechaochen thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT shuhongyang thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT zhenyonghou thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT yijunhou thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT qianye thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT pengzhang thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xiuqinghu thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT jinpingdun thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT weiguozong thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xianyongbai thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT bochen thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT lingpinghe thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT kefeisong thetriggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT qiaosong triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT jingsongwang triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xiaoxinzhang triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT hechaochen triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT shuhongyang triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT zhenyonghou triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT yijunhou triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT qianye triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT pengzhang triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xiuqinghu triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT jinpingdun triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT weiguozong triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT xianyongbai triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT bochen triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT lingpinghe triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion AT kefeisong triggeringprocessofanxclasssolarflareonasmallquadrupolaractiveregion |