| Solar Features - Prominences and Filaments |
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Prominences and filaments are two manifestations of the same phenomenon. Both prominences
and filaments are features formed above the chromosphere by cool dense gases held
in place by solar magnetic fields. Filaments are observed on the solar disk as dark
structures as seen against the hotter chromosphere whereas prominences on the limb
appear bright against the perspective of outer space. The scale sizes for prominences
and filaments are typically many thousands kilometers. Solar observers typically view
prominences and filaments in Hydrogen alpha (656.3 nm). Filaments are sometimes referred
to as floccule (plural of flocculus). Prominences and filaments can rapidly form over
a period of a day but then typically persist for several weeks and, in some cases,
several months. At breakup the gases within these previously stable structures may
be explosively released into space in the form of a coronal mass ejection (CME). Space
weather operators have and continue to monitor the location and character of prominences
and filaments as potential precursors on near-earth geomagnetic activity. (Browse
image provided courtesy of http://www.greatdreams.com) |
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