| Abstract * |
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Solar filaments (dark elongated structures on the solar Chromosphere) are known to have a connection with energetic events of space weather consequences, mainly Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). We have studied the connection between the eruptive dynamics of filaments and the initiation of solar flares and CMEs. Using an automated filament tracking algorithm, we estimate the start time of filament eruption during its eruptive phase. The filament eruption start-time is defined as the time from which the filament area starts to decrease as observed in Hα images. We studied a total of 33 filament eruption events out of which 73% are CME associated and 76% are related to solar flares. Analyzing the time delay of the extreme ultraviolet brightening of solar flares relative to the start time of associated filament eruption, we show that in 83% of cases, filament eruption precedes the flare brightening. We have also studied the CME onset time delay and find that for most of the cases, CMEs occur within 2 hr from the start time of the filament eruptions. These indicates that eruptive filaments can be considered as one of the precursors for the occurrence of solar flares and CMEs. Finally, we search for the connection between the CME speed and area decay rate of eruptive filaments. We find a good correlation between area decay rate of quiescent filaments and the associated CME speed with a correlation coefficient of 0.75. |
