Solar Features - Prominences and Filaments

browse graphicNice image distinguishing a solar prominence and filament (from "http://www.greatdreams.com").
Prominences and filaments are two manifestations of the same phenomenon. Both prominences and filaments are features formed above the chromosphere by cool dense gases held in place by solar magnetic fields. Filaments are observed on the solar disk as dark structures as seen against the hotter chromosphere whereas prominences on the limb appear bright against the perspective of outer space. The scale sizes for prominences and filaments are typically many thousands kilometers. Solar observers typically view prominences and filaments in Hydrogen alpha (656.3 nm). Filaments are sometimes referred to as floccule (plural of flocculus). Prominences and filaments can rapidly form over a period of a day but then typically persist for several weeks and, in some cases, several months. At breakup the gases within these previously stable structures may be explosively released into space in the form of a coronal mass ejection (CME). Space weather operators have and continue to monitor the location and character of prominences and filaments as potential precursors on near-earth geomagnetic activity. (Browse image provided courtesy of http://www.greatdreams.com)
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • solarFeatures [Line 99]
gov.noaa.ngdc.stp.solar:solar-features_prominences-filaments
Distribution Formats
  • pdf
    • File Specification: Most data provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf).
  • txt
    • File Specification: Some data provide in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) text format.
Distributor William Denig
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
(303) 497-6323
solar.ngdc@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact William Denig
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
(303) 497-6323
solar.ngdc@noaa.gov
Coverage Description Data assembled from data provided by various solar observatories located worldwide.
Time Period 1955-07-01 to 2010-11-24
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West:-180
East:180
South:-90
North:90
Spatial Coverage Map
Documentation links not available.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-08-10
Dataset Progress Status Under development - data is currently in the process of being created
Data Update Frequency Annually
Supplemental Information
Collection consists of various lists and tables related to solar filaments
Purpose To provide scientific data stewardship of solar-terrestrial datasets in compliance with NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 212-15, "Management of Environmental and Geospatial Data and Information", dated 04 Nov 10. Scientific Data Stewardship includes the Archive, Access, and Assessment (AAA) of operational and related solar and space environmental datasets.
Originators
  • Scientific Data Stewardship provided by the National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments
  • Data access provided by the NOAA Solar and Terrestrial Physics Division.
Theme keywords NASA/GCMD Earth Science Keywords; Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Meaux, C.Solomon, R. Bilodeau, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, 2007 . NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0.
  • Sun-Earth Interactions > Solar Activity > Solar Active Regions
  • Sun-Earth Interactions > Solar Activity > Solar Imagery
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords NASA/GCMD Platform Keywords; Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Meaux, C.Solomon, R. Bilodeau, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, 2007 . NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0.
  • Solar Observatory Stations
Instrument keywords NASA/GCMD Instrument Keywords; Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Meaux, C.Solomon, R. Bilodeau, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, 2007 . NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0.
  • Solar Telescope
Place keywords NASA/GCMD Location Keywords; Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Meaux, C.Solomon, R. Bilodeau, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, 2007 . NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0.
  • Space > Solar Region > Chromosphere
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
  • NOAA - Space Weather Program
Use Constraints
  • Access Constraints: None Use Constraints: None Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Access Constraints
  • Access Constraints: None Use Constraints: None Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Fees
  • Data can be downloaded free of charge.
Lineage information for:series
Lineage Statement Authoritative data provided by the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center.
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Source Datasets
  • Collection included as a part of the NGDC Official Archive.
    • Description of Source: The NOAA Solar and Terrestrial Physics Division is responsible for managing this collection.
    • Temporal extent used: 1955-07-01 to 2010-11-24
  • Lomnicky Stit Observatory
  • Solar Prominences: Wendelstein
  • Solar Filaments - Solar Geophysical Data (SGD) Tables
    • Temporal extent used: 1955-11-01 to 2009-09-30
Lineage information for:repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 -NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
Platform
Last Modified: 2015-10-02
For questions about the information on this page, please email:solar.ngdc@noaa.gov