Synoptic solar observations of the Solar Flare Telescope focusing on space weather

TL;DR

This paper discusses synoptic solar observations using the Solar Flare Telescope, emphasizing their importance for understanding solar activity and space weather prediction through multi-wavelength imaging and spectropolarimetry.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive synoptic observation method that combines imaging and spectropolarimetry to study solar magnetic fields and dynamic phenomena relevant to space weather.

Findings

Monitoring of solar flares and filament eruptions.

Inference of pre-eruption magnetic field configurations.

Potential for improved space weather prediction.

Abstract

The solar group at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is conducting synoptic solar observations with the Solar Flare Telescope. While it is a part of a long-term solar monitoring, contributing to the study of solar dynamo governing solar activity cycles, it is also an attempt at contributing to space weather research. The observations include imaging with filters for H$\alpha$, Ca K, G-band, and continuum, and spectropolarimetry at the wavelength bands including the He I 1083.0 nm / Si I 1082.7 nm and the Fe I 1564.8 nm lines. Data for the brightness, Doppler signal, and magnetic field information of the photosphere and the chromosphere are obtained. In addition to monitoring dynamic phenomena like flares and filament eruptions, we can track the evolution of the magnetic fields that drive them on the basis of these data. Furthermore, the magnetic field in solar filaments, which develops into a part of the interplanetary magnetic cloud after their eruption and occasionally hits the Earth, can be inferred in its pre-eruption configuration. Such observations beyond mere classical monitoring of the Sun will hereafter become crucially important from the viewpoint of the prediction of space weather phenomena. The current synoptic observations with the Solar Flare Telescope is considered to be a pioneering one for future synoptic observations of the Sun with advanced instruments.