Observational Signatures of Magnetic Reconnection in the Extended Corona

Savage, Sabrina; West, Matthew J.; Seaton, Danial B.; Kobelski, Adam

Observational signatures of reconnection have been studied extensively in the lower corona for decades, successfully providing insight into energy release mechanisms in the region above post-flare arcade loops and below 1.5 solar radii. During large eruptive events, however, energy release continues to occur well beyond the presence of reconnection signatures at these low heights. Supra-Arcade Downflows (SADs) and Supra-Arcade Downflowing Loops (SADLs) are particularly useful measures of continual reconnection in the corona as they may indicate the presence and path of retracting post-reconnection loops. SADs and SADLs have been faintly observed up to 18 hours beyond the passage of corona mass ejections through the SOHO/LASCO field of view, but a recent event from 2014 October 14 associated with giant arches provides very clear observations of these downflows for days after the initial eruption. We report on this unique event and compare these findings with observational signatures of magnetic reconnection in the extended corona for more typical eruptions.

Document ID

20160014827

Acquisition Source

Marshall Space Flight Center

Document Type

Presentation

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Date Acquired

December 22, 2016

Publication Date

December 12, 2016

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Meeting Information

Meeting: American Geophysical Union

Location: San Francisco, CA

Country: United States

Start Date: December 12, 2016

End Date: December 16, 2016

Sponsors: American Geophysical Union

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