Skip to main content
Log in

Eit and LASCO Observations of the Initiation of a Coronal Mass Ejection

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present the first observations of the initiation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) seen on the disk of the Sun. Observations with the EIT experiment on SOHO show that the CME began in a small volume and was initially associated with slow motions of prominence material and a small brightening at one end of the prominence. Shortly afterward, the prominence was accelerated to about 100 km s-1 and was preceded by a bright loop-like structure, which surrounded an emission void, that traveled out into the corona at a velocity of 200–400 km s-1. These three components, the prominence, the dark void, and the bright loops are typical of CMEs when seen at distance in the corona and here are shown to be present at the earliest stages of the CME. The event was later observed to traverse the LASCO coronagraphs fields of view from 1.1 to 30 R⊙. Of particular interest is the fact that this large-scale event, spanning as much as 70 deg in latitude, originated in a volume with dimensions of roughly 35" (2.5 x 104 km). Further, a disturbance that propagated across the disk and a chain of activity near the limb may also be associated with this event as well as a considerable degree of activity near the west limb.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brueckner, G. E. et al.: 1995, Solar Phys. 162, 357.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Delaboudiniére, J.-P. et al.: 1995, Solar Phys. 162, 291.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Feynman, J. and Martin, S. F.: 1995, J. Geophys. Res. 100, 3355.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, H., Lemen, J., and Webb, D.: 1997, in B. Bentley and J. Mariska (eds), ‘A Signature of CME Onset in Soft X-Rays’, Magnetic Reconnection in the Solar Atmosphere, ASP Conf. Ser. 111, p. 379.

  • Hundhausen, A.: 1987, in V. J. Pizzo, T. Holzer, and D. G. Sime (eds), ‘The Origin and Propagation of Coronal Mass Ejections’, Proceedings of the Sixth International Solar Wind Conference, NCAR TN-306, p. 181.

  • Kahler, S.: 1977, Astrophys. J. 214, 891.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahler, S.: 1987, in V. J. Pizzo, T. Holzer, and D. G. Sime (eds), ‘Observations of Coronal Mass Ejections Near the Sun’, Proceedings of the Sixth International Solar Wind Conference, NCAR TN-306, p. 215.

  • Low, B. C. and Hundhausen, A. J.: 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 2221.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeley, N. R., Jr., Bohlin, J. D., Brueckner, G. E., Purcell, J. D., Scherrer, V. E., Tousey, R., Smith, J. B., Jr., Speich, D. M., Tandberg-Hanssen, E., Wilson, R. M., De Loach, A. C., Hoover, R. B., and McGuire, J. P.: 1975, Solar Phys. 45, 377.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sime, D. G. and Hundhausen, A. J.: 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 1049.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Simnett, G. M. et al.: 1997, Solar Phys. 175, 685 (this issue).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuneta, S., Takahashi, T., Acton, L., Bruner, M. E., Harvey, K. L., and Ogawara, Y.: 1992, Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 44, L211.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, W. J.: 1984, Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 22, 267.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D. F., Krieger, A. S., and Rust, D. M.: 1976, Solar Phys. 48, 159.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dere, K.P., Brueckner, G.E., Howard, R.A. et al. Eit and LASCO Observations of the Initiation of a Coronal Mass Ejection. Sol Phys 175, 601–612 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004907307376

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004907307376

Keywords

Navigation