• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2004

X-ray plasma ejections often occurred around the impulsive phases of solar flares and have been well observed by the SXT aboard Yohkoh. Though the X-ray plasma ejections show various morphological shapes, there has been no attempt at classifying the morphological groups for a large sample of the X-ray plasma ejections. In this study, we have classified 137 X-ray plasma ejections according to their shape for the first time. Our classification criteria are as follows: (1) a loop type shows ejecting plasma with the shape of loops, (2) a spray type has a continuous stream of plasma without showing any typical shape, (3) a jet type shows collimated motions of plasma, (4) a confined ejection shows limited motions of plasma near a flaring site. As a result, we classified the flare-associated X-ray plasma ejections into five groups as follows: loop-type (60 events), spray-type (40 events), jet-type (11 events), confined ejection (18 events), and others (8 events). As an illustration, we presented time sequence images of several typical events to discuss their morphological characteristics, speed, CME association, and magnetic field configuration. We found that the jet-type events tend to have higher speeds and better association with CMEs than those of the loop-type events. It is also found that the CME association (11/11) of the jet-type events is much higher than that (5/18) of the confined ejections. These facts imply that the physical characteristics of the X-ray plasma ejections are closely associated with magnetic field configurations near the reconnection regions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.38.3-39
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• 2010

While major solar proton events (SPEs) come from the coronal mass eject (CME)-driven shocks in solar wind, there are many evidences that potentiality of CMEs to generate SPEs depends on its early evolution near the Sun and on different solar activities observed around the CME liftoff time. To decipher origin of SPE release, we have investigated onset time comparison of the SPE with CME, metric type II radio burst, and hard X-ray flare. For this, we select 30 SPEs observed from 1997 to 2006 by using the particle instrument ERNE onboard SOHO, which allows proton flux anisotropy measurement in the energy range ~10 - 50MeV. Onset time of the SPEs is inferred by considering the energy-dependent proton transport time. As results, we found that (1) SPE onset time is comparable to that of type II but later than type III onset time and HXR start time, (2) SPE onset time is mostly later than the peak time of HXR flare, (3) almost half of the SPE onsets occurred after the HXR emission, and (4) there are two groups of CME height at the onset time of SPE; one is the height below 5 Rs (low corona) and the other is above 5Rs (high corona). In this talk, we will present the onset time comparison and discuss about the origin of the SPE onset.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2009

We studied the solar proton events (SPEs) associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during the solar cycle 23 (1997-2006). Using 63 SPE dataset, we investigated the relationship among SPE, flare, and CME, and found that (1) SPE rise time and duration time depend on CME speed and the earthward direction parameter of the CME, and (2) the SPE peak intensity depends on CME speed and X-ray Flare intensity. While inspecting the relation between SPE peak intensity and the direction parameter, we found there are two groups: first group consists of large six SPEs (> 10,000 pfu at > 10 MeV proton channel of GOES satellite) and shows strong correlation (cc = 0.65) between SPE peak intensity and CME direction parameter. The second group has a weak intensity and shows poor correlation between SPE peak intensity and the direction parameter (cc = 0.01). By investigating characteristics of the first group, we found that all the SPEs are associated with very fast halo CME (> 1400km/s) and also they are mostly located at central region and within ${\pm}20^{\circ}$ latitude and ${\pm}30^{\circ}$ longitude strip.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2004

It has been a big mystery what drives filament eruptions and flares. We have studied in detail an X1.8 flare and its associated filament eruption that occurred in NOAA Active Region 9236 on November 24,2000. For this work we have analyzed high temporal (about 1 minute) and spatial (about 1 arcsec) resolution images taken by Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, Hoc centerline and blue wing ($-0.6{\AA}$) images from Big Bear Solar Observatory, and 1600 ${\AA}$ UV images by the Transition Region and Corona Explorer (TRACE). We have found that there were several transient brightenings seen in H$\alpha$ and, more noticeably in TRACE 1600 ${\AA}$ images around the preflare phase. A closer look at the UV brightenings in 1600 ${\AA}$ images reveals that they took place near one end of the erupting filament, and are a kind of jets supplying mass into the transient loops seen in 1600 ${\AA}$. These brightenings were also associated with canceling magnetic features (CMFs) as seen in the MDI magnetograms. The flux variations of these CMFs suggest that the flux cancellation may have been driven by the emergence of the new flux. For this event, we have estimated the ejection speeds of the filament ranging from 10 to 160 km $s^{-1}$ for the first twenty minutes. It is noted that the initiation of the filament eruption (as defined by the rise speed less than 20 km $s^{-1}$) coincided with the preflare activity characterized by UV brightenings and CMFs. The speed of the associated LASCO CME can be well extrapolated from the observed filament speed and its direction is consistent with those of the disturbed UV loops associated with the preflare activity. Supposing the H$\alpha$/UV transient brightenings and the canceling magnetic features are due to magnetic reconnect ion in the low atmosphere, our results may be strong observational evidence supporting that the initiation of the filament eruption and the preflare phase of the associated flare may be physically related to low-atmosphere magnetic reconnection.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.27-32
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• 2009

Recently, we suggested a CME earthward direction parameter as an important geoeffective parameter that has been demonstrated by front-side halo CME data. In this study, we present the geometrical implication of this parameter by comparing with the parameters from a CME cone model. Major results from this study can be summarized as follows. First, we derive an analytic relationship between the cone model parameters(the half angular width of a cone and the angle between the cone axis and the plane of sky) and the earthward direction parameter. Second, we demonstrate a close relationship between the earthward direction parameter and the cone axis angle using 32 front-side full halo CMEs. Third, we found that there is noticeable inconsistency between the cone axis angles estimated from the cone model fitting to the CMEs and from their associated flare positions, implying that the flare position should not be considered as a good earthward direction parameter. Finally we present several advantages of our earthward direction parameter in terms of the forecast of a geomagnetic storm based on CME parameters.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29.2-29.2
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• 2010

The Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on board Hinode provide us with excellent imaging spectroscopic data with very good spatial and spectral resolutions, which can be used for detecting Doppler flows in transition region and coronal lines as well as diagnosing plasma properties such as temperature, density, and non-thermal velocity. In this study we have made an EUV-imaging spectroscopic study of the source region of a partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred on 2007 July 9 in NOAA 10961. Dopplergrams are obtained before and after the CME eruption using 12 EIS spectral lines (Log T= 4.9~7.2). Major results are summarized as follows. First, it is noted that either red shifts disappeared or blue shifts newly appeared for all spectral lines lower than Log T =6.0. Second, there were significant intensity increases for all wavelengths. Third, there were no significant variations in non-thermal motions for all wavelengths. We found one interesting bright point that newly appeared after the CME eruption. We discuss the implication on the results in terms of the CME eruption.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.spc1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2003

In this paper, we review recent studies on the magnetic helicity changes of solar active regions by photospheric horizontal motions. Recently, Chae(200l) developed a methodology to determine the magnetic helicity change rate via photospheric horizontal motions. We have applied this methodology to four cases: (1) NOAA AR 8100 which has a series of homologous X-ray flares, (2) three active regions which have four eruptive major X-ray flares, (3) NOAA AR 9236 which has three eruptive X-class flares, and (4) NOAA AR 8668 in which a large filament was under formation. As a result, we have found several interesting results. First, the rate of magnetic helicity injection strongly depends on an active region and its evolution. Its mean rate ranges from 4 to $17 {\times} 10^{40}\;Mx^2\;h^{-1}$. Especially when the homologous flares occurred and when the filament was formed, significant rates of magnetic helicity were continuously deposited in the corona via photospheric shear flows. Second, there is a strong positive correlation between the magnetic helicity accumulated during the flaring time interval of the homologous flares in AR 8100 and the GOES X-ray flux integrated over the flaring time. This indicates that the occurrence of a series of homologous flares is physically related to the accumulation of magnetic helicity in the corona by photospheric shearing motions. Third, impulsive helicity variations took place near the flaring times of some strong flares. These impulsive variations whose time scales are less than one hour are attributed to localized velocity kernels around the polarity inversion line. Fourth, considering the filament eruption associated with an X1.8 flare started about 10 minutes before the impulsive variation of the helicity change rate, we suggest that the impulsive helicity variation is not a cause of the eruptive solar flare but its result. Finally, we discuss the physical implications on these results and our future plans.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.55-60
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• 2009

The properties of SOHO/LASCO CMEs are subjected to projection effects. Their dependence on the source position is important to be studied. Our main aim is to study the dependence of CME properties on helio-longitude and latitude using the CMEs associated with type IIs observed by Wind/WAVES spacecraft (Deca-hecta metric type IIs - DH type IIs). These CMEs were identified as a separate population of geo-effective CMEs. We considered the CMEs associated with the Wind/WAVE type IIs observed during the period January 1997 - December 2005. The source locations of these CMEs were identified using their associated GOES X-ray flares and listed online. Using their locations and the cataloged properties of CMEs, we carried out a study on the dependence of CME properties on source location. We studied the above for three groups of CMEs: (i) all CMEs, (ii) halo and non-halo CMEs, and (iii) limb and non-limb CMEs. Major results from this study can be summarized as follows. (i) There is a clear dependence of speed on both the longitude and latitude; while there is an increasing trend with respect to longitude, it is opposite in the case of latitude. Our investigations show that the longitudinal dependence is caused by the projection effect and the latitudinal effect by the solar cycle effect. (ii) In the case of width, the disc centered events are observed with more width than those occurred at higher longitudes, and this result seems to be the same for latitude. (iii) The dependency of speed is confirmed on the angular distance between the sun-center and source location determined using both the longitude and latitude. (iv) There is no dependency found in the case of acceleration. (v) Among all the three groups of CMEs, the speeds of halo CMEs show more dependency on longitude. The speed of non-halo and non-limb CMEs show more dependency on latitude. The above results may be taken into account in correcting the projection effects of geo-effective CMEs.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2017

Solar wind density depletions are phenomena that solar wind density is rapidly decreased and keep the state. They are generally believed to be caused by the interplanetary (IP) shocks. However, there are other cases that are hardly associated with IP shocks. We set up a hypothesis for this phenomenon and analyze this study. We have collected the solar wind parameters such as density, speed and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) data related to the solar wind density depletion events during the period from 1996 to 2013 that are obtained with the advanced composition explorer (ACE) and the Wind satellite. We also calculate two pressures (magnetic, dynamic) and analyze the relation with density depletion. As a result, we found total 53 events and the most these phenomena's sources caused by IP shock are interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME). We also found that solar wind density depletions are scarcely related with IP shock's parameters. The solar wind density is correlated with solar wind dynamic pressure within density depletion. However, the solar wind density has an little anti-correlation with IMF strength during all events of solar wind density depletion, regardless of the presence of IP shocks. Additionally, In 47 events of IP shocks, we find 6 events that show a feature of blast wave. The quantities of IP shocks are weaker than blast wave from the Sun, they are declined in a short time after increasing rapidly. We thus argue that IMF strength or dynamic pressure are an important factor in understanding the nature of solar wind density depletion. Since IMF strength and solar wind speed varies with solar cycle, we will also investigate the characteristics of solar wind density depletion events in different phases of solar cycle as an additional clue to their physical nature.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.63.1-63.1
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• 2013

To improve the forecast capability of geomagnetic storms, we consider the real time solar and near Earth conditions together, since the characteristics of CMEs can be modified during their transit from the Sun to the Earth, and the geomagnetic storms may be directly affected by not only solar events but also near Earth interplanetary conditions. Using 55 CME-Dst pairs associated with M- and X-class solar flares, which have clearly identifiable source regions during 1997 to 2003, we confirm that the peak values of negative magnetic field Bz and duskward electric field Ey prior to Dst minimum are strongly related with Dst index. We suggest the solar wind criteria (Bz<-5 nT or Ey>3 mV/m for t>2 hr) for moderate storm less than -50 nT by modifying the criteria for intense storms less than -100 nT proposed by Gonzalez and Tsurutani (GT, 1987). As the results, 90% (28/31) of the storms are correctly forecasted by our criteria. For 15 exceptional events that are incorrectly forecasted by only CME parameters, 12 cases (80%) can be properly forecasted by solar wind criteria. When we applying CME and solar wind conditions together, all geomagnetic storms (Dst<-50 nT) are correctly forecasted. Our results show that, the storm forecast capability of the 2~3 days advanced warning based on CME parameters can be improved by combining with the urgent warning based on the near Earth solar wind condition.