9314120 Martin In this study the investigators will study filament channels on the sun. The behavior of filaments and filament channels is intimately tied to solar activity on the sun, particularly coronal mass ejections. Filament channels mark th eboundaries between large- scale bipolar magnetic regions whose patterns of emergence, migration, and polarity reveal important aspects of the solar cycle. The research includes the analysis of existing data, the acquisition and analysis of new observations, and theoretical studies. Data from several U. S. solar observatories will be used in the study. The observations will be interpreted using models of filament formation and several workshops will be held to discuss the results. The primary goal is to increase our understanding of the physical processes related to the development of filament channels on the sun. ***
