Description
Active regions are distinct, separable regions of the Sun where subsurface magnetic flux has emerged. The complexity of an active region's magnetic topology is a key factor in determining its likelihood of producing eruptive activity such as flares and coronal mass ejection events. However, current classification schemes, such as the widely used Mount Wilson system, are purely categorical and assigned daily, making them insensitive to finer variations in magnetic structure. Consequently, two active regions with the same classification label can exhibit significantly different levels of topology complexity and eruption frequency.
We introduce a novel approach to quantifying magnetic complexity through our Polarity Inversion Measure (PIM), which provides a continuous metric rather than a discrete label. We then present a statistical study of over 1,400 active regions observed since the launch of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, using vector magnetograms and continuum images from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager instrument, to compare the evolution of PIM with Mount Wilson classifications and highlight the advantages of a quantified complexity measure over this human-assigned daily label. Additionally, we demonstrate PIM's effectiveness in predicting next-day Mount Wilson classifications and present initial results on its potential application in flare forecasting. Our findings suggest that incorporating a continuous measure of magnetic complexity could significantly augment space weather prediction capabilities.
