A new method to quantify and reduce projection error in whole-solar-active-region parameters measured from vector magnetograms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to measure and correct projection errors in vector magnetogram parameters of active regions observed away from disk center, improving the accuracy of magnetic flux measurements for better solar activity forecasting.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel technique to quantify and reduce projection errors in whole-AR parameters derived from vector magnetograms, applicable up to 60° from disk center.

Findings

The method effectively reduces projection errors in AR flux measurements.

Application to 30,845 magnetograms demonstrates its robustness.

Improves accuracy of AR evolution studies and flare/CME forecasting.

Abstract

Projection error limits the use of vector magnetograms of active regions (ARs) far from disk center. In this Letter, for ARs observed up to 60o from disk center, we demonstrate a method of measuring and reducing the projection error in the magnitude of any whole-AR parameter derived from a vector magnetogram that has been deprojected to disk center. The method assumes that the center-to-limb curve of the average of the parameter's absolute values measured from the disk passage of a large number of ARs and normalized to each AR's absolute value of the parameter at central meridian, gives the average fractional projection error at each radial distance from disk center. To demonstrate the method, we use a large set of large-flux ARs and apply the method to a whole-AR parameter that is among the simplest to measure: whole-AR magnetic flux. We measure 30,845 SDO/HMI vector magnetograms covering the disk passage of 272 large-flux ARs, each having whole-AR flux >1022 Mx. We obtain the center-to-limb radial-distance run of the average projection error in measured whole-AR flux from a Chebyshev fit to the radial-distance plot of the 30,845 normalized measured values. The average projection error in the measured whole-AR flux of an AR at a given radial distance is removed by multiplying the measured flux by the correction factor given by the fit. The correction is important for both the study of evolution of ARs and for improving the accuracy of forecasting an AR's major flare/CME productivity.