The relationship between solar activity and coronal hole evolution

We examine the relationship between coronal hole evolution and solar active regions during the Skylab period. We find a tendency for holes to grow or remain stable when the activity nearby, seen as calcium plages and bright regions in X-rays, is predominantly large, long-lived regions. This is consistent with results of previous studies, using somewhat different methods. We also find that there is a significantly higher number of small, short-lived active regions, as indicated by X-ray bright points, in the vicinity of decaying holes than there is near other holes. We interpret this to mean that holes disappear at least in part because they become filled with many small scale, magnetically closed, X-ray emitting features. This interpretation, together with the previously reported observation that the number of X-ray bright points was much larger near solar minimum than it was during the Skylab period, provides a possible explanation for the disappearance of the large, near-equatorial coronal holes at the time of solar minimum.     

Dynamics of coronal hole regions

The hydrodynamic properties of a steadily expanding corona are explored for situations in which departures from spherically symmetric outflow are large, in the sense that the geometrical cross section of a given flow tube increases outward from the Sun faster than r ² in some regions. Assuming polytropic flow, it is shown that in certain cases the flow may contain more than one critical point. We derive the criterion for determining which of these critical points is actually crossed by the transonic solution which begins at the Sun and extends continuously outward. Next, we apply the theory to geometries which exhibit rapid spreading of the flow tubes in the inner corona, followed by more-or-less radial divergence at large distances. This is believed to be the type of geometry found in coronal hole regions. The results show that, if this initial divergence is sufficiently large, the outflow becomes supersonic at a critical point encountered low in the corona in the region of high divergence, and it remains supersonic at all greater heights in the corona. This feature strongly suggests that coronal hole regions differ from other open-field regions of the corona in that they are in a fast, low density expansion state over much of their extent. Such a dynamical configuration makes it possible to reconcile the low values of electron density observed in coronal holes with the large particle fluxes in the associated high speed streams seen in the solar wind.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Self-consistent magnetohydrodynamic coronal hole flows

Magnetic fields are thought to play a crucial role in determining the dynamics and energetics of coronal hole flows. In this paper we investigate the possibility that the large scale structure of the magnetic field and plasma within a coronal hole may be determined from the effects of plasma-magnetic field interactions. The overall state is then governed by a complex balance of inertial, pressure gravitational and magnetic forces. Integration of the highly non-linear system of differential equations, which describe the plasma-magnetic field coupling, is made possible by employing a numerical iterative technique developed by Pneuman and Kopp (1971). The method of solution is modified and extended to describe thermally conductive plasma flow in coronal holes. We consider the features of a typical converged solution, representing the distribution of velocity, temperature, density and magnetic field strength within a coronal hole.     

Meterwave observations of a coronal hole

We present meterwave maps showing a coronal hole at 30.9, 50.0, and 73.8 MHz using the Clark Lake Radioheliograph in October 1984. The coronal hole seen against the disk at all three frequencies shows interesting similarities to, and significant differences from its optical signatures in He i l10830 spectroheliograms.Using the model of coronal holes by Dulk et al. (1977) we derive the electron density from the radio observations of the brightness temperature. The discrepancy between the density value derived from the Skylab EUV data and that computed from our radio data is even larger than in Dulk et al. 's comparison at similar and higher frequencies.     

Ion-cyclotron waves in solar coronal hole

We investigate the effect of the plume/interplume lane (PIPL) structure of the solar polar coronal hole (PCH) on the propagation characteristics of ion-cyclotron waves (ICW). The gradients of physical parameters determined by SOHO and TRACE satellites both parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field are considered with the aim of determining how the efficiency of the ICR process varies along the PIPL structure of PCH. We construct a model based on the kinetic theory by using quasi-linear approximation. We solve the Vlasov equation for O VI ions and obtain the dispersion relation of ICW. The resonance process in the interplume lanes is much more effective than in the plumes, agreeing with the observations which show the source of fast solar wind is interplume lanes. The solution of the Vlasov equation in PIPL structure of PCH, the physical parameters of which display gradients along and perpendicular direction to the external magnetic field, is thus obtained in a more general form than the previous investigations.     

Cyclic variations of the polar coronal hole

The extension of the polar coronal holes has been studied for four cycles (1940–1978), using the observations of the corona line 530.3 nm. For about 7 years of each cycle, including sunspot minimum, the polar hole exists permanently and has a diameter of about 40° or even more. For about 3 years around sunspot maximum no polar hole does exist (Figure 5). The boundary of the hole is flanked at a distance of 10° by the polar zone of the corona and at one of 20° by that of the prominences. In the polar caps, so far they are occupied by the holes, polar photospheric faculae and the well-known plumes of the polar corona are found, and the polar crown of prominences, encircling the polar hole, is the belt where the reversal of the magnetic polarity takes place.     

Evidence linking coronal transients to the evolution of coronal holes

The positions of X-ray coronal transients outside of active regions observed during Skylab were superposed on H synoptic charts and coronal hole boundaries for seven solar rotations. We confirmed a detailed spatial association between the transients and neutral lines. We found that most of the transients were related to large-scale changes in coronal hole area and tended to occur on the borders of evolving equatorial holes.Skylab Solar Workshop Post-Doctoral Appointee, 1975–1977.     

Radio and EUV observations of a coronal hole

We present observations of a coronal hole made with the EUV spectroheliometer of the Harvard College aboard Skylab and with high resolution (2–4) radio telescopes at Culgoora and Fleurs Australia and Bonn, West Germany. We attempt to derive the density and temperature distributions in the transition region and inner corona from the combined observations. No one standard model can explain both sets of observations; characteristically, models based on EUV data yield higher radio brightnesses than are observed, while models based on radio data yield lower EUV line intensities than are observed. The discrepancy is essentially that the electron density inferred from the EUV data is about three times that inferred from the radio data.After examining several possible modifications of the standard models we suggest that the discrepancy would disappear if the abundances of the heavier elements were increased by about a factor of 10. Such increases could result from differential diffusion in the large temperature gradient of the transition region. We conclude therefore that models which incorporate thermal diffusion, as well as mass outflow and departures from ionization equilibrium, offer the greatest hope of reconciling the EUV and radio observations of coronal holes.     

Observation of a coronal hole at 85 GHz

A coronal hole was observed at 85 GHz(3.5 mm-) on November 24, 1970, when a spectacular coronal hole was observed in soft X-rays by AS&E. The millimeter counterpart of the hole is much weaker and less widespread than in X-rays. The brightness temperature inside the hole was in most places about 100–200 K lower than the mean brightness temperature of the Sun at 85 GHz.     

Determination and analysis of coronal hole radio spectra

Solar radio maps obtained by our group and others over a wide wavelength range (millimeter to meter) and over a considerable time span (1973–1978) have allowed us to compute the radio spectrum of an average coronal hole, i.e., the brightness temperature inside a coronal hole normalized by the brightness temperature of the quiet Sun outside the coronal hole measured at several different radio wavelengths. This radio spectrum can be used to obtain the changes of the quiet Sun atmosphere inside coronal holes and also as an additional check for coronal hole profiles obtained by other methods. Using a standard solar atmosphere and a computer program which included ray tracing, we have tried to reproduce the observed radio spectrum by computing brightness temperatures at many different wavelengths for a long series of modifications in the electron density, neutral particle density and temperature profiles of the standard solar atmosphere. This analysis indicates that inside an average coronal hole the following changes occur: the upper chromosphere expands by about 20% and its electron density and temperature decrease by about 10%. The transition zone experiences the largest change, expanding by a factor of about 6, its electron density decreases by a similar factor, and its temperature decreases by about 50%. Finally in the corona the electron density decreases by about 20% and the temperature by about 15%.     

Inferences of plasma parameters from coronal hole observations

The temperature in the acceleration region of the solar wind remains one of the most elusive parameters to measure. Knowledge of the temperature as well as its gradient in the inner corona is fundamental for placing constraints on physical mechanisms thought to be responsible for the coronal heating process, as well as for understanding the flow properties of the solar wind. Estimates of the helium abundance is essential for understanding the puzzling behavior of heavier ions in the solar wind. As an illustration of the difficulties and uncertainties involved in the inferences of plasma parameters in the wolar wind acceleration region, The inference of electron temperature and helium abundance will be described. Prospects for future observations will be briefly discussed.     

Observations of the birth of a small coronal hole

Using soft X-ray data from the S-054 X-ray spectrographic telescope aboard Skylab, we observed temporal changes in the emission structure of the X-ray corona associated with the birth of a small coronal hole. Designated as CH6, this coronal hole was born near the equator in a time interval less than 9 1/2 hr. By constructing a light curve for a point near the center of CH6, we observed a sudden 40% decrease in X-ray emission associated with the birth of this coronal hole. On a time scale of hours, the growth of CH6 in area proceeded faster than the average rate predicted by the diffusion of solar fields. The short term decay of CH6 followed the diffusive rate to within experimental uncertainty, On a time scale of one rotation, the subsequent development of CH6 was not consistent with steady growth at the average rate predicted by diffusion.Skylab Solar Workshop Post-Doctoral Appointee, 1975–1977. The Skylab Solar Workshops are sponsored by NASA and NSF and managed by the High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research.     

The evolution of coronal magnetic fields

Slow photospheric motions can produce flow speeds in the corona which are fast enough to violate quasi-static evolution. Therefore, high-speed flows observed in the corona are not necessarily due to a loss of equilibrium or stability. In this letter we present an example where the flow speed increases indefinitely with, height, while the coronal magnetic energy increases quadratically with time.     

On the Electron density in a coronal hole

Electron density in a coronal hole is rediscussed using the new calculation for the Mgviii 436.62/430.47 density-sensitive theoretical line ratio and with the help of available observations.     

The evolution of twisted coronal loops

The evolution of coronal loops in response to slow photospheric twisting motions is investigated using a variety of methods. Firstly, by solving the time-dependent equations it is shown that the field essentially evolves through a sequence of 2-D equilibria with no evidence of rapid dynamic evolution. Secondly, a sequence of 1-D equilibria are shown to provide a remarkably good approximation to the 2-D time-dependent results using a fraction of the computer time. Thus, a substantial investigation of parameter space is now possible. Finally, simple bounds on the 3-D stability of coronal loops are obtained. Exact stability bounds can be found by using these bounds to reduce the region of parameter space requiring further investigation. Twisting the loop too much shows that a 3-D instability must be triggered.     

The magnetic and thermodynamical structure of a coronal hole

A nonpolytropic model of a polar coronal hole at 2 R R 5 R is constructed. Our main assumptions are: (1) the magnetic structure of the Sun can be described by a combination of dipole-like and radial fields; (2) in the magnetically dominated region [(v ²/2) < (B ²/8)] the influence of the outflow on the magnetic structure is negligible. The magnetic and thermodynamic structures are obtained by solving the force balance equation for plasma with the observationally derived electron density. Profiles of velocities in the acceleration regime are presented and the influence of the outflow on the thermodynamic structure of the solar corona above the polar region is discussed.This paper is the first part of a joint project of the Space Environment Laboratory, the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, and the High Altitude Observatory, NCAR. The second paper by Munro and Tzur is in preparation.Work done while at the Space Environment Laboratory, NOAA, ERL, Boulder, CO 80303, U.S.A.1982–83 Visiting Fellow at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, National Bureau of Standards and University of Colorado.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.Visitor at NCAR.     

Brightness distribution at the base of a coronal hole

A coronal hole was observed for three days of its passage near the central meridian of the Sun. Spectrograms containing strong lines of ionized calcium were obtained. The central intensities of the Ca II H, K, and λ849.8 nm lines in the region of the coronal hole and in the quiet-Sun region outside its boundaries were measured. Only the line profiles that were confidently identified as being undisturbed even by weak flocculi were selected. All profiles were averaged in each of the two chromospheric network components (network and cell), and the average profiles were calculated using all of the available data (network+cell). Small differences were found between the central intensities of the Ca II H and K lines inside and outside the coronal hole, with the hole being brighter than the quiet region. A detailed statistical analysis shows that these small differences are real at high confidence levels owing to the large sample sizes. A difference of the same sign is slightly noticeable in the infrared line, but its confidence level is less than 90%. The chromosphere in the coronal hole is brightened by the cell alone; in the network, the chromospheric foot of the coronal hole does not differ from the quiet region. Comparison with the results of other authors obtained from observations in higher atmospheric layers suggests that the network also contains a brightness peak that subsequently gives way to a characteristic depression, but it lies higher than that in the cell.     

MHD waves in the solar north polar coronal hole

The effects, hitherto not treated, of the temperature and the number density gradients, both in the parallel and the perpendicular direction to the magnetic field, of O VI ions, on the MHD wave propagation characteristics in the solar North Polar Coronal Hole are investigated. We investigate the magnetosonic wave propagation in a resistive MHD regime where only the thermal conduction is taken into account. Heat conduction across the magnetic field is treated in a non‐classical approach wherein the heat is assumed to be conducted by the plasma waves emitted by ions and absorbed at a distance from the source by other ions. Anisotropic temperature and the number density distributions of O VI ions revealed the chaotic nature of MHD standing wave, especially near the plume/interplume lane borders. Attenuation length scales of the fast mode is shown not to be smoothly varying function of the radial distance from the Sun (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The evolution of the polar coronal holes

He i 10830 Å synoptic maps, obtained at the Kitt Peak National Observatory during 1974–1979, show that the Sun's polar coronal holes have contracted significantly during 1977–1978. Prior to the accelerated increase of sunspot activity in mid-1977, the area of each polar cap was on the order of 8% of the Sun's total surface area (4R ²), whereas toward the end of 1978 these areas fell below 2% of 4R ². Synoptic polar plots show that the vestigual holes had irregular shapes and were often well removed from the poles themselves. These results are consistent with the changes that one would expect when the polar magnetic fields are weakening just prior to sunspot maximum.     

Synoptic charts of solar 9.1 cm and coronal hole data

Synoptic charts for Carrington rotations 1601–1605 (May–August, 1973) were prepared using the central meridian column of the daily 9.1 cm Stanford solar radio maps. These charts were especially contoured to emphasize temperatures near the quiet solar disk level. Synoptic charts of coronal holes from the ATM-Skylab were superimposed on the radio data to investigate the ability of the radio charts to show coronal holes. This brief period is unfortunately the only interval for which both sets of data are available. The conclusion reached is that in spite of certain problems due to active regions, side-lobe effects and a rather large beamwidth, the 9.1 cm synoptic charts can be of substantial value in identifying large coronal holes, especially during periods of low solar activity. Such synoptic charts, therefore, for the years 1962–1973 that Stanford data are available, could enhance significantly the meagre data pool for coronal holes prior to the Skylab mission.