Active region upflows in various coronal structures and their coupling to the lower atmosphere

Context. Plasma upflows with a Doppler shift exceeding −10 km s−1 at active region (AR) boundaries are considered potential sources of the nascent slow solar wind. These upflows are often located at the footpoints of large-scale fan-like loops and show temperature-dependent Doppler shifts with redshifts in the transition region and blueshifts in the lower corona. Aims. We investigate the driving mechanisms of a pair of coronal upflow regions on the western and eastern peripheries of an AR, which have different magnetic topologies and surroundings. It is aimed to explore how these upflows couple to the lower atmosphere. Methods. Using observations of the Fe <ns0:sc>XII</ns0:sc> 19.51 nm line from Hinode, we identified two upflow regions at the western and eastern boundaries of a decaying AR. Context images for the two regions were obtained by the High Resolution Imager (HRI) telescope of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) on board the Solar Orbiter mission. Other instruments on Solar Orbiter and other observatories provide diagnostics to the lower atmosphere. Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) extrapolations were used to examine the magnetic field configuration associated with the AR upflows. Results. The eastern upflow region, located over the AR moss, displays small-scale dynamic fibril structures, whereas the western region hosts fan-like loops. We found blueshifted Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> emission at the eastern site, in contrast to redshifted Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> profiles in the west. Magnetic field extrapolations reveal a pseudostreamer topology connecting both these regions. Moreover, low transition-region lines show systematically reduced redshift below the eastern footpoint. Conclusions. The observations support the scenario in which both upflows are driven by pressure imbalances created by coronal reconnection, leading to a continuous upflow above approximately 0.6 MK (i.e., Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> line formation temperature). Meanwhile, mass flows in the lower transition region beneath the eastern upflow region appear to respond passively to the pressure-driven coronal upflows.

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Publication Details

Journal
Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Published
2025-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555618/pdf
Primary Topic
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Type
article
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article

Active region upflows in various coronal structures and their coupling to the lower atmosphere

F. Auchère, W. G. Thompson, G. Valori, L. Harra et al.
Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
article

Active region upflows in various coronal structures and their coupling to the lower atmosphere

F. Auchère, W. G. Thompson, G. Valori, L. Harra, L. P. Chitta, H. Peter, S. Parenti, J. Plowman, T. Fredvik, T. Grundy, S. Mzerguat, N. Janitzek, K. Barczynski
article en

Abstract

Context. Plasma upflows with a Doppler shift exceeding −10 km s−1 at active region (AR) boundaries are considered potential sources of the nascent slow solar wind. These upflows are often located at the footpoints of large-scale fan-like loops and show temperature-dependent Doppler shifts with redshifts in the transition region and blueshifts in the lower corona. Aims. We investigate the driving mechanisms of a pair of coronal upflow regions on the western and eastern peripheries of an AR, which have different magnetic topologies and surroundings. It is aimed to explore how these upflows couple to the lower atmosphere. Methods. Using observations of the Fe <ns0:sc>XII</ns0:sc> 19.51 nm line from Hinode, we identified two upflow regions at the western and eastern boundaries of a decaying AR. Context images for the two regions were obtained by the High Resolution Imager (HRI) telescope of the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) on board the Solar Orbiter mission. Other instruments on Solar Orbiter and other observatories provide diagnostics to the lower atmosphere. Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) extrapolations were used to examine the magnetic field configuration associated with the AR upflows. Results. The eastern upflow region, located over the AR moss, displays small-scale dynamic fibril structures, whereas the western region hosts fan-like loops. We found blueshifted Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> emission at the eastern site, in contrast to redshifted Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> profiles in the west. Magnetic field extrapolations reveal a pseudostreamer topology connecting both these regions. Moreover, low transition-region lines show systematically reduced redshift below the eastern footpoint. Conclusions. The observations support the scenario in which both upflows are driven by pressure imbalances created by coronal reconnection, leading to a continuous upflow above approximately 0.6 MK (i.e., Ne <ns0:sc>VIII</ns0:sc> line formation temperature). Meanwhile, mass flows in the lower transition region beneath the eastern upflow region appear to respond passively to the pressure-driven coronal upflows.

Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
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