A Survey of Solar Flare Phenomena

Byrne, F. N., M. A. Ellison, and J. H. Reid, A Survey of Solar Flare Phenomena, Space Sci. Rev., 3, 319-341 (1964) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

A very early cartoon indeed, based on ideas of Cocconi, Morrison and/or Gold? Such a picture in any case precedes the neologism "Coronal Mass Ejection," of course. "CME" slips off the tongue more readily now than "Ion clouds issuing from active region". Nowadays we are pretty sure that sunspots don't emit massive ion clouds; indeed the concept of an ion cloud (without electrons) is somewhat confusing electrodynamically. Note the sensible allowance here for solar cosmic rays (SEPs) to arrive from the antisolar direction as the ejecta pass the observer. This does not, however, solve the problem SEPs outside the ejecta. See the Zurbuchen-Robertson cartoon for a more colorful modern version.

Date: 2007 June 19

Update: 2019 November 19