SID flares and sunspot morphology

The degree of association between geoeffective (SID producing) flares (hereafter called SID flares) and sunspot morphology is examined. It is found that: (1) the frequency of SID flares associated with sunspot groups is linear function of sunspot area and rate of change in area; (2) the SID flare intensity is dependent on the sunspot area and on the magnetic morphology (field geometry); (3) the probability of a sunspot group being magnetically complex (henceforth called complex ratio) is a linear function of spot area, the larger this area the more likely a group is in the βγ or δ magnetic class; (4) the complex ratio exhibits the greatest degree of association to SID flare frequency. We conclude from these results that a higher frequency of D-region ionizing flares (emitting a soft X-ray flux >2 × 10^?3 erg cm^?2 s^?1) is likely to accompany the disk transit of large area, complex spot groups. This combination of morphological factors reflects a shearing of the associated force-free magnetic field, with accumulation of free magnetic energy to power SID flares. Mutual polarity intrusion would be one observational signature of the pre-flare energy storing process.