Coronal Destabilization Leading to CMEs

Mark Lyons (LASCO)

On 2 June 1997 LASCO observed a multiple CME event occurring towards the SE. The chain of events involved a primary mass eruption near the equator being followed by a series of loop-like CMEs each ejected at progressively higher latitudes (i.e. towards the south pole). There was also ejection of material to the NW coinciding with that from the SE. Associated with this event was an h-alpha filament which disappeared sometime near the onset of the initial CME and was followed by the formation of an arcade of loops over the filament position seen in soft x-rays (Yohkoh/SXT).

This event is an example of a global response of the solar corona to some destabilisation process. It is hoped that MDI magnetograms will shed some light on the magnetic topology involved, possibly showing how the magnetic structure changes with time. This may help model the event and provide some clues on the possible triggering mechanism in question.