9302098 McClymont This U.S.-Argentina Program award will support the collaboration of Alexander McClymont of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Marta Rovira of the Instituto de Astronom a y F sica del Espacio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The project aims to understand the mechanism of gradual magnetic energy dissipation in active regions and the physical conditions required to trigger the impulsive release of energy that produces solar flares. The physical mechanisms responsible for heating solar flares and active regions are not yet understood. Energy is thought to originate from the magnetic field in both cases, but the release mechanisms must be quite different. Heating of the active region atmosphere is quasi-steady, whereas energy is released impulsively in flares. In this project, the researchers will conduct an integrated study of magnetic energy release in the solar corona, combining both theoretical studies and the analysis of observational data. Both the U.S. and Argentine sides will benefit from the interaction of participating theorists and data analysts who share an interest in the dynamics and energetics of flares and active regions. ***
