Sunspot dynamics and magnetic evolution in the active region 12192

The triggering mechanism of solar flares, which is linked to sunspot rotation, magnetic field evolution, and moving magnetic features (MMFs), lacks systematic quantitative analysis of their correlations in complex active regions (AR). This study examines the October 22, 2014, X1.6-class flare in the active region (AR) 12192, the 24-year-largest βγδ-configured region, using data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite soft x-ray flux. We quantified rotation of four sunspots (N1/N2: negative polarity; P1/P2: positive polarity) via ellipse fitting (average error ±0.43°, ensuring reliability) and tracked magnetic flux variations and MMFs. The results show negative-polarity sunspots reversed rotation 6 min before flare onset (N1: 0.28°/min counterclockwise to clockwise; N2: 0.15°/min clockwise to counterclockwise), an MMF moved at 0.67 km/s with 1.21%–1.55% magnetic flux reduction, and magnetic cancelation synchronized with the x-ray peak, with sunspot rotation correlating with cancelation (r = 0.41). Innovatively, we revealed negative sunspots' “directional reversal-radial gradient” rotation, established a “rotation-flux-MMF” triggering chain, and provided quantitative evidence for rotation-driven flare initiation, advancing understanding of solar eruptive dynamics.