We have developed a near real-time flare alerting system which (1) downloads the latest GOES-l0 1-8 Å X-ray flux 1-min data by an automated ftp program and shell scripts, (2) produces a beep sound in a simple IDL widget program when the flux is larger than a critical value, and (3) makes it possible to do a wireless alerting by a set of portable transceivers. Thanks to the system, we have made successful Ha flare observations by the Solar Flare Telescope in Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory. This system is expected to be helpful for ground-based flare observers.

Nonpotential characteristics of magnetic fields in AR 5747 are examined using Mees Solar Observatory magnetograms taken on Oct. 20, 1989 to Oct. 22, 1989. The active region showed such violent flaring activities during the observational span that strong X-ray flares took place including a 2B/X3 flare. The magnetogram data were obtained by the Haleakala Stokes Polarimeter which provides simultaneous Stokes profiles of the Fe I doublet 6301.5 and 6302.5. A nonlinear least square method was adopted to derive the magnetic field vectors from the observed Stokes profiles and a multi-step ambiguity solution method was employed to resolve the 180° ambiguity. From the ambiguity-resolved vector magnetograms, we have derived a set of physical quantities characterizing the field configuration, which are magnetic flux, vertical current density, magnetic shear angle, angular shear, magnetic free energy density, a measure of magnetic field discontinuity MAD and linear force-free coefficient. Our results show that (1) magnetic nonpotentiality is concentrated near the inversion line in the flaring sites, (2) all the physical parameters decreased with time, which may imply that the active region was in a relaxation stage of its evolution, (3) 2-D MAD has similar patterns with other nonpotential parameters, demonstrating that it can be utilized as an useful parameter of flare producing active region, and (4) the linear force-free coefficient could be a evolutionary indicator with a merit as a global nonpotential parameter.

In the present study we examine physical characteristics of a thin and rigid magnetic flux tube with a steady flow inside, which is embedded vertically upward in the solar atmosphere. We found from this study that (1) The downward material flow gives rise to a dominant heating in the flux tube which works with the conductive heating in the same direction. However, the upflow flow creates a dominant cooling which works against the conductive heating, resulting in a steeper temperature gradient with a shallower transition region. (2) Since the thickness of the transition region determines the material content in the transition region, a broader transition region of the downflow tube produces a larger differential measure.

In the present work we introduce a new flare activity indicator, MAD and examine its characteristics by analyzing a set of successive three days' observations of a typical active region, AR2372. The computed MAD is compared with conventional activity indicator such as separator. It is found that. (1) MAD traces very well the separator, (2) it. singles out. local discontinuity of magnetic field lines and (3) it. is a good measure of describing the evolutionary status of active region.

Effects of cloud rotation 011 the profiles of CO J= 1 → 0 lines arc investigated by theoretically general ing line profiles under physical conditions similar to t he ones in large globules. The synthesized profiles are presented and their characteristics are discussed. It is found that when the Doppler shift of the observed CO lines is interpreted as the rotation velocity, the optically thin 13 C O lines underestimate the rotation velocity by up to 10 percents, while the self-reversed optically thick 12 C O lines overestimate the velocity up to 20 percents. The optically thin line is shown to be of use in probing the distribution of rotation velocity in dark globules.

With a modern microdensitometer and POSS glass copies, we have performed an automated star counting in two colors, blue and red, over the region containing Bok globule B361. Distribution of the measured extinction values over the projected angular distance from the cloud center was approximated by a power-law, and the resulting power-law indices for the blue and red are shown to be distinctly different from each other. The difference in the power-law index indicates that the mean dust size increases towards the cloud center. Possible physical causes for such size variation are briefly discussed.

Theoretical profiles of selected rotational lines of C 2 CH, CN, TiO and MgH are computed by using the current models of sunspot unbrae and penumbrae. It is found that the lines of the diatomic carbides are enhanced in penumbrae relative to umbrae, while MgH lines are more strongly enhanced in umbrae than in penumbrae and the quiet photosphere. The results are discussed with respect to selecting lines suitable for studying the structure of sunspots.

Calculations of molecular number densities as a function of optical depth in selected umbral, penumbral and photospheric models predict penumbral enhancement of diatomic molecules containing carbon atoms, strong umbral enhancement of oxides, and moderate umbral enhancement of hydrides. The role of CO formation in an oxygen rich atmosphere is discussed.