Emerging flux in active regions

We have compared the rates at which flux emerges in active and quiet solar regions within the sunspot belts. The emerging flux regions (EFRs) were identified by the appearance of arch filament structures in H. All EFRs in high-resolution films of active regions made at Big Bear in 1978 were counted. The comparable rate of flux emergence in quiet regions was obtained from SGD data and independently from EFRs detected outside the active region perimeter on the same films. The rate of flux emergence is 10 times higher in active regions than in quiet regions. A sample of all active regions in 31 days of 1983 gave a ratio of 7.5. We discuss possible mechanisms which might funnel new magnetic flux to regions of strong magnetic field.