On the evolution of a sub-C class flare: a showcase for the capabilities of the revamped Catania Solar Telescope

TL;DR

This paper describes the upgrades to the Catania Solar Telescope and demonstrates its enhanced capability by analyzing a solar flare observed concurrently with space-based instruments, contributing to Space Weather monitoring.

Contribution

The paper presents hardware and software improvements to the Catania Solar Telescope and showcases its new observational capabilities through a detailed flare analysis.

Findings

Successful observation of a B5.4 class flare in 2020 December

Enhanced data products including full-disc images and sunspot characterization

Improved contribution to ESA Space Weather Service Network

Abstract

Solar flares are occasionally responsible for severe Space Weather events, which can affect space-borne and ground-based infrastructures, endangering anthropic technological activities and even human health and safety. Thus, an essential activity in the framework of Space Weather monitoring is devoted to the observation of the activity level of the Sun. In this context, the acquisition system of the Catania Solar Telescope has been recently upgraded in order to improve its contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) - Space Weather Service Network through the ESA Portal, which represents the main asset for Space Weather in Europe. Here, we describe the hardware and software upgrades of the Catania Solar Telescope and the main data products provided by this facility, which include full-disc images of the photosphere and chromosphere, together with a detailed characterization of the sunspot groups. As a showcase of the observational capabilities of the revamped Catania Solar Telescope, we report the analysis of a B5.4 class flare occurred on 2020 December 7, simultaneously observed by the IRIS and SDO satellites.