Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm

In 2024 May, the Sun exhibited intense magnetic activity, marked by numerous high-intensity flares resulting from the interaction and merging of NOAA active regions (ARs) 13664 and 13668 in the southern hemisphere and AR 13663 in the northern hemisphere. Notably, AR 13664 displayed an extended lifet...

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Main Authors: B. Lekshmi, Sushanta Tripathy, Kiran Jain, Alexei Pevtsov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ade2e3
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author B. Lekshmi
Sushanta Tripathy
Kiran Jain
Alexei Pevtsov
author_facet B. Lekshmi
Sushanta Tripathy
Kiran Jain
Alexei Pevtsov
author_sort B. Lekshmi
collection DOAJ
description In 2024 May, the Sun exhibited intense magnetic activity, marked by numerous high-intensity flares resulting from the interaction and merging of NOAA active regions (ARs) 13664 and 13668 in the southern hemisphere and AR 13663 in the northern hemisphere. Notably, AR 13664 displayed an extended lifetime, remaining visible after a full solar rotation and continuing to produce significant flaring activity. In this study, we investigate the evolution of subphotospheric plasma flows associated with these ARs during their disk passage using ring-diagram analysis of Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager Dopplergrams. We analyze flow divergence, vorticity, and kinetic helicity across depths from the surface to 25 Mm, revealing pronounced temporal and depth-dependent variations. Our observations indicate that the majority of flares occur on the days when the Normalized Helicity Gradient Variance, a measure of kinetic helicity spread, peaks or on the following day. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between subsurface flow dynamics and surface magnetic properties of these complex ARs to understand the interaction between them.
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spelling doaj-art-7a8ccd9eb58b4a908f10ebda66803fe42025-08-20T03:31:05ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01987213410.3847/1538-4357/ade2e3Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May StormB. Lekshmi0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0666-7650Sushanta Tripathy1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4995-6180Kiran Jain2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-1639Alexei Pevtsov3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0489-0920National Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Dr., Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Dr., Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Dr., Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Dr., Boulder, CO 80303, USAIn 2024 May, the Sun exhibited intense magnetic activity, marked by numerous high-intensity flares resulting from the interaction and merging of NOAA active regions (ARs) 13664 and 13668 in the southern hemisphere and AR 13663 in the northern hemisphere. Notably, AR 13664 displayed an extended lifetime, remaining visible after a full solar rotation and continuing to produce significant flaring activity. In this study, we investigate the evolution of subphotospheric plasma flows associated with these ARs during their disk passage using ring-diagram analysis of Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager Dopplergrams. We analyze flow divergence, vorticity, and kinetic helicity across depths from the surface to 25 Mm, revealing pronounced temporal and depth-dependent variations. Our observations indicate that the majority of flares occur on the days when the Normalized Helicity Gradient Variance, a measure of kinetic helicity spread, peaks or on the following day. Furthermore, we examine the relationship between subsurface flow dynamics and surface magnetic properties of these complex ARs to understand the interaction between them.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ade2e3Solar stormSolar flaresSolar active region velocity fieldsSolar active region magnetic fieldsSolar active regionsSolar activity
spellingShingle B. Lekshmi
Sushanta Tripathy
Kiran Jain
Alexei Pevtsov
Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
The Astrophysical Journal
Solar storm
Solar flares
Solar active region velocity fields
Solar active region magnetic fields
Solar active regions
Solar activity
title Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
title_full Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
title_fullStr Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
title_short Dynamics of Subsurface Flows in Solar Active Regions during the 2024 May Storm
title_sort dynamics of subsurface flows in solar active regions during the 2024 may storm
topic Solar storm
Solar flares
Solar active region velocity fields
Solar active region magnetic fields
Solar active regions
Solar activity
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ade2e3
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AT sushantatripathy dynamicsofsubsurfaceflowsinsolaractiveregionsduringthe2024maystorm
AT kiranjain dynamicsofsubsurfaceflowsinsolaractiveregionsduringthe2024maystorm
AT alexeipevtsov dynamicsofsubsurfaceflowsinsolaractiveregionsduringthe2024maystorm