Magnetic transients in flares

Data are presented on magnetic transients (mgtr's) observed in flares on July 1 and 5, 1980, with Big Bear videomagnetograph. The event of July 1 was a white light flare in which a strong bipolar mgtr was observed and a definite change in the sunspots occurred at the time of the flare. In the flare of July 5, a mgtr was observed in only one polarity, and although no sunspot changes occurred simultaneous with the flare, significant spot changes occurred in a period of hours. Suggestions are made as to what might be occurring in the magnetic field. It is explained why the mgtr cannot be ascribed to time variation or to emission in the lambda 5324. Attention is also given to the remarkable penumbral structure associated with the July 5 flare.