In solar physics and

observation Observation in the natural sciences is an act or instance of noticing or perceiving and the acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the percep ...

, an active region is a temporary feature in the Sun's atmosphere characterized by a strong and complex

magnetic field A magnetic field (sometimes called B-field) is a physical field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A moving charge in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular ...

. They are often associated with sunspots and are commonly the source of violent eruptions such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares. The number and location of active regions on the solar disk at any given time is dependent on the

solar cycle The Solar cycle, also known as the solar magnetic activity cycle, sunspot cycle, or Schwabe cycle, is a periodic 11-year change in the Sun's activity measured in terms of Modern Maximum, variations in the number of observed sunspots on the Sun ...

Region numbers

Newly observed active regions on the solar disk are assigned 4-digit region numbers by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) on the day following the initial observation. The region number assigned to a particular active region is one added to the previously assigned number. For example, the first observation of active region 8090, or AR8090, was followed by AR8091. According to the SWPC, a number is assigned to a region if it meets at least one of the following criteria: # It contains a sunspot group of class C or larger based on the Modified Zurich Class sunspot classification system. # It contains a sunspot group of class A or B confirmed by at least two observers, preferably with observations more than one hour apart. # It has produced a solar flare with an X-ray burst. # It contains plage with a white-light brightness of at least 2.5 (on a linear scale 1-5, 5=flare) and has an extent of at least five heliographic degrees. # It contains plage that is bright near the west limb and is suspected of growing. The region numbers reached 10,000 in July 2002. However, the SWPC continued using 4-digits, with the inclusion of leading zeros.

Magnetic field

Mount Wilson magnetic classification

The Mount Wilson magnetic classification system, also known as the Hale magnetic classification system, is a method of classifying the magnetic field of active regions. It was first introduced in 1919 by George Ellery Hale and coworkers working at the Mount Wilson Observatory. It originally included only the α, β, and γ magnetic classifications, but it was later modified by H. Künzel in 1965 to include the δ qualifier.

Sunspots

Solar Archipelago - Flickr - NASA Goddard Photo and Video

The strong magnetic flux found in active regions is often strong enough to inhibit

convection Convection is single or Multiphase flow, multiphase fluid flow that occurs Spontaneous process, spontaneously through the combined effects of material property heterogeneity and body forces on a fluid, most commonly density and gravity (see buoy ...

. Without convection transporting energy from the Sun's interior to the photosphere, surface temperature decreases along with the intensity of emitted black body radiation. These areas of cooler plasma are known as sunspots, and often appear in groups. However, not all active regions possess sunspots.

Magnetic flux emergence

Active regions form through the process of magnetic flux emergence, during which magnetic fields generated by the solar dynamo emerge from the solar interior.

References