Flare and CME Properties and Rates at Sunspot Minimum

TL;DR

This paper examines the properties and rates of solar flares and CMEs during solar minimum, highlighting a significant decrease in flare/CME ratio in Cycle 23/24 compared to the previous minimum, indicating changes in solar corona behavior.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of flare and CME occurrence rates and ratios during different solar minima, revealing changes in the solar corona's environment and its impact on solar activity.

Findings

Flare/CME ratio decreased by nearly an order of magnitude in Cycle 23/24.

The solar minimum corona was more easily disrupted in Cycle 23/24.

Differences in corona conditions affect flare and CME occurrence.

Abstract

The corona at solar minimum generally differs greatly from that during active times. We discuss the current Cycle 23/24 minimum from the point of view of the occurrence of flares and CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections). By comparison with the previous minimum, the flare/CME ratio diminished by almost an order of magnitude. This suggests that the environmental effect in flare/CME association differed in the sense that the Cycle 23/24 minimum corona was relatively easy to disrupt.