Sunspots are areas of strong magnetic field on the surface of the sun and usually consist of a group of spots of positive magnetic field and another of negative magnetic field. Solar flares sometimes explode near these sunspot groups, usually along the neutral line between regions of positive and negative magnetic fields. The idea is that if the magnetic field structure around sunspots becomes twisted or sheared then the magnetic field lines may cross and release energy upon reconnection.
Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are often associated with solar flares. The SOHO Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) creates an artificial eclipse, allowing observation of the solar corona and CMEs. When a CME is directed toward the earth we see a "halo event." CMEs are big globs of gas that are ejected from the sun, often carrying magnetic field lines with them. When a CME stretches some of the magnetic field along with it a magnetic cloud is produced. |
 Fireworks in sequence from four instruments - This CME, part of a
series of 5 CMEs in late November 2000, shows its progress from a
sunspot group (MDI), to the flash of a flare (EIT 195Å), to a blasting
CME seen 14 hours later (LASCO C2), and to a large expanding CME
cloud over three hours later. |