Seventy-five hours of coordinated videomagnetograph observations

Videomagnetograph observations obtained between September 24 and 29, 1987 are presented which illustrate the evolution of magnetic flux surrounding a stable sunspot. It is found that the dominant sunspot mainly ejects magnetic fields of opposite sign, and that the surrounding plage fields steadily contract and retreat inward toward the umbra, resulting in shrinking and weakening of the spot and plage. The extent of the moat is shown to be reduced by 50 percent in a 75-hour period, with the principal loss of flux probably due to concellation at the main neutral line. Five subflares were noted, three occurring prior to cancellation of the magnetic elements at the inversion line and two occurring during the development and disappearance of an ephemeral bipolar region.