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Solar Spicules near and at The Limb, Observed from HinodeSolar spicules appear as narrow jets emanating from the chromosphere and extending into the corona. They have been observed for over a hundred years,mainly in chromospheric spectral lines such as H-alpha. Because they are at the limit of visibility of ground-based instruments, their nature has long been a puzzle. In recent years however, vast progress has been made in understanding them both theoretically and observationally. Most recently, spicule studies have undergone revolution because of the superior resolution, time cadence, and atmosphere-free observations from the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) instrument on the Hinode spacecraft. Here we present observations of spicules from {\sl Hinode} SOT, and consider how the observations from Hinode compare with historical observations. We include data taken in the blue and red wings of Halpha, where the spicules have widths of a few approx.100 kms, and the longest ones reach about 10(exp 4) km in extent,similar to sizes long reported from ground-based instruments. Their dynamics are not easy to generalize, with many showing the upward movement followed by falling or fading, as traditionally reported, but with others showing more dynamic or even ejective aspects. There is a strong transverse component to their motion, as extensively reported previously from the Hinode data as evidence for Alfven waves.
Document ID
20090028642
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sterling, Alphonse C.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
June 14, 2009
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
M09-0468
Meeting Information
Meeting: Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society Meeting
Location: Boulder, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: June 14, 2009
End Date: June 18, 2009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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