Chromospheric explosions and satellite sunspots

Abstract

Observations of the longitudinal component of the photospheric magnetic fields near sunspots imply that surges and Ellerman bombs occur at neutral points in the magnetic fields (i.e. |B|=0) in the chromosphere. The neutral points appear above satellite sunspots, which are defined as polarity reversals (in B||) near the edges of large-spot penumbrae. A series of magnetograph observations shows a point of satellite polarity vanishing during a period of almost continuous surge activity. The lost magnetic energy is comparable to the energy release evidenced by the surge.