Erupting Magnetic Structures observed with SOHO/LASCO

We report observations, from March 1999 to December 1999, of slow-moving, low-mass (10¹⁴ g) erupting structures. The 20 events seen in this period appear with a double or multiple loop structure. Their speeds range from approximately 10 to 60 km s^–1. There are no significant associated flares or radio signatures. Although the speed distribution of these events overlaps that of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), we propose that they are morphologically different structures and are not merely a continuation of the lower range of the CME speed distribution. The aim of this paper is to characterize these events and to emphasize the insight into general CME research that such simple phenomena could give.