Magnetic shear in flaring regions

We have evaluated the shear angle of the neutral line of the non-potential magnetic field for one or two days prior to and after the flare event for 10 cases. We have used the H filament positions to evaluate the shear in the neutral line. We find from the samples we have studied that it is the change in the shear that occurs a day prior to the flare that can lead to the event. This change can be in either direction, i.e., it can be a large increase from a small value or a decrease from a large initial value. Thus it is the change in the shear angle that seems to be a deciding criterion for a flare to occur and not a large value for the shear angle itself. We have one instance where there was no significant change in the shear angle over a period of a few days and this region, although similar to other active regions studied, did not produce any flare activity.