Use of Simultaneous EUV and Soft X-ray Measurements for Diagnostics of the Solar Flare Radiation Danger

The fluxes of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray emission are key parameters for modelling the ionosphere and upper atmosphere. A new aspect is considered in using these fluxes for diagnostics and short-term prediction of proton radiation danger from the flare. The EUV (λ < 105 nm) and soft X-ray (0.1–0.8 nm) fluxes were compared for two types of solar flares. The first type is followed by a strong enhancement in solar energetic (E >10 MeV) proton flux, the second is not followed by any enhancement in proton flux. It was discovered that the flare UV flux was considerably higher for flares with protons than for those without protons. Soft X-ray fluxes were approximately equal in both cases. An excess of EUV emission in proton flares grows with increasing proton flux. An analytic expression was found for the growth in proton flux as a function of the excess of EUV radiation at a given X-ray flux. These results can be used in predicting flare radiation danger.     

Euv97: Improvements to Euv Irradiance Modeling in the Soft X-Rays and FUV

EUV97 is a solar EUV empirical model that incorporates revised soft X-ray fluxes from the SOLRAD-11 satellite (1976–1979) and uses Lα recently recalibrated to the UARS satellite (1991–present) SOLSTICE Lα. The soft X-ray data have been revised from the original flux values using Mewe's spectral fits to the data. The recalibrated AE-E and SME Lα datasets use UARS Lα for absolute flux values to provide two solar cycles of Lα irradiance extending back to 1977. Lα is used by EUV97 as a proxy for chromospheric EUV irradiances. The EUV97 empirical solar model takes its heritage from the EUV91 model based on a multiple linear regression technique that fits soft X-ray and EUV irradiances to 10.7 cm flux for transition region and coronal emissions or to Lα and Hei 10830 Ú EW for chromospheric emissions.     

Solar Flare and CME Observations with STEREO/EUVI

STEREO/EUVI observed 185 flare events (detected above the GOES class C1 level or at >?25 keV with RHESSI) during the first two years of the mission (December 2006?–?November 2008), while coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were reported in about a third of these events. We compile a comprehensive catalog of these EUVI-observed events, containing the peak fluxes in soft X rays, hard X rays, and EUV, as well as a classification and statistics of prominent EUV features: 79% show impulsive EUV emission (coincident with hard X rays), 73% show delayed EUV emission from postflare loops and arcades, 24% represent occulted flares, 17% exhibit EUV dimming, 5% show loop oscillations or propagating waves, and at least 3% show erupting filaments. We analyze an example of each EUV feature by stereoscopic modeling of its 3D geometry. We find that EUV emission can be dominated by impulsive emission from a heated, highly sheared, noneruptive filament, in addition to the more common impulsive EUV emission from flare ribbons or the delayed postflare EUV emission that results from cooling of the soft-X-ray-emitting flare loops. Occulted flares allow us to determine CME-related coronal dimming uncontaminated from flare-related EUV emission. From modeling the time evolution of EUV dimming we can accurately quantify the initial expansion of CMEs and determine their masses. Further, we find evidence that coronal loop oscillations are excited by the rapid initial expansion of CMEs. These examples demonstrate that stereoscopic EUV data provide powerful new methods to model the 3D aspects in the hydrodynamics of flares and kinematics of CMEs.     

Possible contribution of radiation from the 2s2p42P level of O II in dayglow measurements of the He I line at 584 Å

Intensity of dayglow emmisions in the lines of 0 II at 537 and 581 Å is evaluated from presently accepted atomic parameters, EUV solar fluxes and atmospheric models. An improvement of the experimental techniques used up to now is suggested to identify these emissions and provide new data on ionospheric processes.     

Correction of SOHO CELIAS/SEM EUV measurements saturated by extreme solar flare events

The solar irradiance in the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) spectral bands has been observed with a 15 s cadence by the SOHO Solar EUV Monitor (SEM) since 1995. During remarkably intense solar flares the SEM EUV measurements are saturated in the central (zero) order channel (0.1–50.0 nm) by the flare soft X‐ray and EUV flux. The first order EUV channel (26–34 nm) is not saturated by the flare flux because of its limited bandwidth, but it is sensitive to the arrival of Solar Energetic Particles (SEP). While both channels detect nearly equal SEP fluxes, their contributions to the count rate is sensibly negligible in the zero order channel but must be accounted for and removed from the first channel count rate. SEP contribution to the measured SEM signals usually follows the EUV peak for the gradual solar flare events. Correcting the extreme solar flare SEMEUV measurements may reveal currently unclear relations between the flare magnitude, dynamics observed in different EUV spectral bands, and the measured Earth atmosphere response. A simple and effective correction technique based on analysis of SEM count‐rate profiles, GOES X‐ray, and GOES proton data has been developed and used for correcting EUV measurements for the five extreme solar flare events of July 14, 2000, October 28, November 2, November 4, 2003, and January 20, 2005. Although none of the 2000 and 2003 flare peaks were contaminated by the presence of SEPs, the January 20, 2005 SEPs were unusually prompt and contaminated the peak. The estimated accuracy of the correction is about ±7.5% for large X‐class events. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Temporal trends of solar EUV and UV full-disk fluxes

Several progressions in the temporal characteristics of full-disk solar UV and EUV fluxes have been identified that raise many questions about the solar physics involved. The collective effect of numerous enhancements smaller than scaled plages contribute significantly to the solar cycle variations, especially for emissions from the cooler portions of the corona and the chromosphere. Active-region remnants are suggested to have a strong role even in solar-rotation induced variations late in an episode of major activity. Although cool coronal EUV emissions are long lasting, the persistence of the solar-rotation induced variations is even greater at photospheric UV wavelengths. Gyroresonance and possibly nonthermal radio emission at centimeter wavelengths are suggested to be particularly important during the first solar rotation of an episode of major activity.     

Temporal trends of solar EUV and UV full-disk fluxes

Several progressions in the temporal characteristics of full-disk solar UV and EUV fluxes have been identified that raise many questions about the solar physics involved. The collective effect of numerous enhancements smaller than scaled plages contribute significantly to the solar cycle variations, especially for emissions from the cooler portions of the corona and the chromosphere. Active-region remnants are suggested to have a strong role even in solar-rotation induced variations late in an episode of major activity. Although cool coronal EUV emissions are long lasting, the persistence of the solar-rotation induced variations is even greater at photospheric UV wavelengths. Gyroresonance and possibly nonthermal radio emission at centimeter wavelengths are suggested to be particularly important during the first solar rotation of an episode of major activity.     

Solar irradiance below 120 nm and its variations

The solar irradiance below 120 nm was first predicted by astronomers. Since its accurate measurement required the solution of a variety of technological problems, little is known about the variability before 1972, though for more than two decades data have been collected. Therefore, on a quantitative basis only a very rough picture can be given for the solar cycle 19. Also, not enough data with sufficient absolute accuracy are available to describe the solar EUV flux variations of the solar cycle 20, especially during the period of solar maximum. However, due to technological improvements of space and laboratory instrumentations, an almost complete set of data has been obtained from 1972 to date. These observations exhibit strong differences of the flux variations from solar cycle 20 to 21. - For the theoretical and for semi-empirical treatments of many aeronomic processes controlled by the solar EUV radiation, its adequate representation e.g. as indices is required. The problems involved and possible solutions are discussed. Results from some relevant aeronomically oriented computations based on variable solar EUV fluxes are presented.Proceedings of the 14th ESLAB Symposium on Physics of Solar Variations, 16–19 September 1980, Scheveningen, The Netherlands.     

Statistical Studies on the Excess Peak Flux in Soft X-rays and EUV Bands from Solar Flares

Based on the solar X-ray data in the band of 0.1??C?0.8?nm observed by Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), the XUV and EUV data in the bands of 26??C?34?nm and 0.1??C?50?nm observed by the Solar EUV Monitor (SEM) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a statistical analysis on the excess peak flux (the pre-flare flux is subtracted) in two SEM bands during M- and X-class flares from 1998 to 2007 is given. The average ratio of the excess peak flux to the pre-flare flux for the M-class flares is 5.5?%±3.7?% and that for the X-class flares is 16?%±11?%. The excess peak fluxes in two SEM bands are positively correlated with the X-ray flare class; with the increase in the X-ray flare class, the excess peak flux in two SEM bands increases. However, a large dispersion in the excess peak flux in the SEM bands and their ratio is found for the same X-ray flare class. The relationship between the excess peak fluxes of the two SEM bands also shows large dispersion. It is considered that the diversity we found in the flare spectral irradiance is caused by many variable factors related to the structure and evolution of solar flares.     

Solar EUV Irradiance Measurements by the Auto-Calibrating EUV Spectrometers (SolACES) Aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

SolACES is part of the ESA SOLAR ISS mission that started aboard the shuttle mission STS-122 on 7 February 2008. The instrument has recorded solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance from 16 to 150 nm during the extended solar activity minimum and the beginning solar cycle 24 with rising solar activity and increasingly changing spectral composition. The SOLAR mission has been extended from a period of 18 months to >?8 years until the end of 2016. SolACES is operating three grazing incidence planar grating spectrometers and two three-current ionization chambers. The latter ones are considered as primary radiometric detector standards. Re-filling the ionization chambers with three different gases repeatedly and using overlapping band-pass filters, the absolute EUV fluxes are derived in these spectral intervals. This way the serious problem of continuing efficiency changes in space-borne instrumentation is overcome during the mission. Evaluating the three currents of the ionization chambers, the overlapping spectral ranges of the spectrometers and of the filters plus inter-comparing the results from the EUV photon absorption in the gases with different absorption cross sections, there are manifold instrumental possibilities to cross-check the results providing a high degree of reliability to the spectral irradiance derived. During the mission a very strong up-and-down variability of the spectrometric efficiency by orders of magnitude is observed. One of the effects involved is channeltron degradation. However, there are still open questions on other effects contributing to these changes. A survey of the measurements carried out and first results of the solar spectral irradiance (SSI) data are presented. Inter-comparison with EUV data from other space missions shows good agreement such that the international effort has started to elaborate a complete set of EUV-SSI data taking into account all data available from 2008 to 2013.     

Modeling Solar UV Variations Using Mount Wilson Observatory Indices

Understanding the magnitude and temporal structure of variations in solar ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet irradiance is critical to understanding solar forcing of the Earth's upper and middle atmosphere and hence to assessing the relative impact of natural and anthropogenic influences on Earth's atmospheric environment. Satellite based measurements of such variations are limited to recent times, are short in duration and subject to gaps making necessary ground-based surrogates with longer and more continuous coverage. Using indices derived from synoptic solar magnetograms taken at the Mount Wilson 150-foot solar tower, we have constructed models of several UV and near EUV lines and fluxes which correlate strongly (r > 0.90) with satellite data. These lines and fluxes include the Mgii h and k core-to-wing ratio, the Lα line and the 200–205 nm flux.     

Soft X-ray Fluxes of Major Flares Far Behind the Limb as Estimated Using STEREO EUV Images

With increasing solar activity since 2010, many flares from the backside of the Sun have been observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI) on either of the twin STEREO spacecraft. Our objective is to estimate their X-ray peak fluxes from EUVI data by finding a relation of the EUVI with GOES X-ray fluxes. Because of the presence of the Fe xxiv line at 192 Å, the response of the EUVI 195 Å channel has a secondary broad peak around 15 MK, and its fluxes closely trace X-ray fluxes during the rise phase of flares. If the flare plasma is isothermal, the EUVI flux should be directly proportional to the GOES flux. In reality, the multithermal nature of the flare and other factors complicate the estimation of the X-ray fluxes from EUVI observations. We discuss the uncertainties, by comparing GOES fluxes with the high cadence EUV data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We conclude that the EUVI 195 Å data can provide estimates of the X-ray peak fluxes of intense flares (e.g., above M4 in the GOES scale) to small uncertainties. Lastly we show examples of intense flares from regions far behind the limb, some of which show eruptive signatures in AIA images.     

On the nature of the transition region between the solar corona and chromosphere

We have calculated an equilibrium temperature distribution over the column depth of plasma in the transition region between the solar corona and chromosphere by assuming the plasma in the transition region and the chromosphere to be heated by the heat flux from the corona and the energy fluxes from the convective zone, respectively. The corona-chromosphere transition region is shown to be actually a stable, very thin layer in which, however, the standard collision approximation is well applicable for describing the heat flux. The solution we found explains well the currently available results of satellite observations of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation from the transition region.     

Interpreting Solar EUV Wave Observations from Different Viewing Angles Using an MHD Model

We study the effect of projection and line-of-sight integration on the interpretation of the morphology and kinematics of EUV waves. We have performed a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting in an environment that mimics the low solar corona and calculated the resulting emission measure of the event from five different viewing angles. Our study provides more quantitative information about the impact of the viewing angle and projection effect on the properties of EUV waves than previous studies on the subject. Analyzing the emission measure of the lower corona reveals wave-like increases that move away from the eruption site, which we interpret as EUV waves. Behind the EUV wave front we can recognize coronal dimming regions. A comparison of the emission measure and calculated density supports the view that EUV waves are true waves. Our results show that the origin of the observed EUV wave is height-dependent, which means that the measured speed and the morphology depend on the viewing direction. Consequently, care should be taken when EUV observations are used to infer the true propagation speeds of EUV wave fronts.     

New face in the spectral behavior of Capella in the UV

We present low and high resolution ultraviolet spectra of the Capella spectroscopic binary system from the observations taken by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during the period between 1978–1990 and 1978–1995. Thirteen profile of Capella showing variations of line fluxes at different orbital phases are presented. This paper focuses on the C IV emission line at 1550 Å produced in the transition region of the secondary star and Mg II emission lines at 2800 Å produced in the stellar chromosphere of the secondary star by calculating spectral line fluxes. Our results show that there are significant variations of line fluxes with time. These spectral variations are similar to that found in the EUV by Dupree and Brickhouse (in Int. Astron. Union Symp. 176P:184D, 1995) in the UV for H 1 Ly?α by Ayres et al. (in Astrophys. J. 402:710A, 1993), and in the near IR by Katsova (in Astrophys. Space Sci. 252:427K, 1997). We attribute these variations in line fluxes to the variations of both density and temperature in the line emitting regions as a result of the intermediate-scale magnetic fields responsible for stellar activity leading to these spectral variations.     

Annual and sub-annual effects of EUV heating—II. Comparison with density variations

By a detailed comparison of annual and sub-annual components of EUV absorption heat input with those of the Jacchia density models, we consider the importance of EUV heating in the annual and sub-annual variations of the upper atmosphere. When all the geometrical effects of EUV heat input have been taken into account, it is found that a remarkable correspondence exists between properties of each harmonic component of EUV heat input and Jacchia model temperature and densities. Equinoctial latitude independence of diurnal averaged annual and sub-annual components of heat input and density is proposed as a test of the significance of the EUV heat input. The Jacchia model is found to satisfy this test rigourously.     

Variations in ion and neutral composition at Venus: Evidence of solar control of the formation of the predawn bulges in H+ and He1

A comparison of ion and neutral composition measurements at Venus for periods of greatly different solar activity provides qualitative evidence of solar control of the day-to-night transport of light ion and neutral species. Concentrations of H⁺ and He in the predawn bulge near solar maximum in November, 1979, exhibit a depletion signature correlated with a pronounced modulation in the solar F_10.7 and EUV fluxes. This perturbation, not observed in the predawn region during an earlier period of relative quiet solar conditions, is interpreted as resulting from pronounced changes in solar heating and photoionization on the dayside, which in turn modulate the transport of ions and neutrals into the bulge region.     

Systematic photometry of XUV solar images

Units and methods have been devised to express the photometry of solar XUV images. The source and limb-brightened fluxes are given in terms of the sun's quiet central intensity. Measurements made on this system can be meaningfully compared with solar data and with theoretical predictions. Calculations have been made of the XUV distribution for optically thin solar models and results have been converted onto the measurement system. Photometric measurements have been made from four films lent by the Culham and Leicester Laboratories. Certain inconsistencies suggest that the measurement accuracy is not yet good enough for definitive results. However, there is evidence that: (a) the X-ray emission sources are brighter, relative to the quiet sun, than the longer wave EUV sources; (b) X-ray limb photons all escape (i.e. limb optically thin) but EUV limb emission is affected by absorption; and (c) the observed image diameter fits an emission scale height of 0.05 .     

Using Strong Solar Coronal Emission Lines as Coronal Flux Proxies

We investigate the possibility that strong EUV lines observed with the Goddard Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) provide good proxies for estimating the total coronal flux over shorter wavelength ranges. We use coordinated SERTS and Yohkoh observations to obtain both polynomial and power-law fits relating the broad-band soft X-ray fluxes to the intensities of Fexvi 335 Ú and 361 Ú, Fexv 284 Ú and 417 Ú, and Mgix 368 Ú measured with SERTS. We found that the power-law fits best cover the full range of solar conditions from quiet Sun through active region, though not surprisingly the cooler Mgix 368 Ú line proves to be a poor proxy. The quadratic polynomial fits yield fair agreement over a large range for all but the Mgix line. However, the linear fits fail conspicuously when extrapolated into the quiet-Sun regime. The implications of this work for the Heii 304 Ú line formation problem are also briefly considered.