A new technique for the calculation and 3D visualisation of magnetic complexities on solar satellite images

O.W. Ahmed (1) , R. Qahwaji (1) , T. Colak (1) , Thierry Dudok de Wit (2) , S. Ipson (1)

1 University of Bradford
2 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace

In this paper, we introduce two novel models for processing real-life satellite images to quantify and then visualise their magnetic structures in 3D. We believe this multidisciplinary work is a real convergence between image processing, 3D visualisation and solar physics. The first model aims to calculate the value of the magnetic complexity in active regions and the solar disk. A series of experiments are carried out using this model and a relationship has been indentified between the calculated magnetic complexity values and solar flare events. The second model aims to visualise the calculated magnetic complexities in 3D colour maps in order to identify the locations of eruptive regions on the Sun. Both models demonstrate promising results and they can be potentially used in the fields of solar imaging, space weather and solar flare prediction and forecasting.

Domaines: Astrophysique stellaire et solaire [astro-ph.SR]; Instrumentation et méthodes pour l'astrophysique [astro-ph.IM]; Analyse de données, Statistiques et Probabilités [physics.data-an]; Physique de l'espace [physics.space-ph]; Physique des plasmas [physics.plasm-ph]; Astrophysique [astro-ph]

O.W. Ahmed, R. Qahwaji, T. Colak, Thierry Dudok de Wit, S. Ipson. A new technique for the calculation and 3D visualisation of magnetic complexities on solar satellite images. The Visual Computer, 2010, 26 (5), pp.385-395. ⟨10.1007/s00371-010-0418-1⟩. ⟨insu-03388587⟩