UFLAE Codes

Position, importance, time and duration of solar flares as reported by a single optical observatory. (Importance in conformance with the recommendations of IAU Commission 10 as of 1 January 1966.)

Example:

Definition of symbols:

  • UFLAE comes from solar FLArEs

  • I I I I I = station indicator

  • Y = last digit of year
  • MM = month of year, 01 = January, 02 = February, etc
  • . DD = UT day of month

  • Coded location of each non-quiet region:
  • Q = quadrant (heliographic coordinates) of the active region
    • 1 = NE (northeast)
    • 2 = SE (southeast)
    • 3 = SW (southwest)
    • 4 = NW (northwest)
  • XX = distance to the central meridian in degrees
  • YY = heliographic latitude in degrees

  • d = flare importance based upon corrected area in square
    • 0 = subflare(s); area < 2.0 square degrees
    • 1 = importance 1; 2.1 square degrees < area < 5.1 square degrees
    • 2 = importance 2; 5.2 square degrees < area < 12.4 square degrees
    • 3 = importance 3; 12.5 square degrees < area < 24.7 square degrees
    • 4 = importance 4; area > 24.8 square degrees
  • e = flare intensity based upon relative evaluation
    • 7 = faint
    • 8 = normal
    • 9 = bright
  • AAA = uncorrected flare area in millionths of solar disk

  • a = start time qualifier
    • 6 = start of flare
    • 7 = first observation of flare in progress
  • HHmm = UT hour and minute of first observation of flare

  • b = observing quality indicator
    • 1 = very poor
    • 2 = poor
    • 3 = fair
    • 4 = good
    • 5 = exceptional
  • HHmm = UT hour and minute of flare maximum (use / / / / if unknown)

Note: Repeat group bHHmm for secondary maximums

  • c = end time qualifier
    • 8 = end of flare
    • 9 = last observation of flare in progress
  • HHmm = UT hour and minute of end or last observation of flare

Note: Repeat groups QXXYY deAAA aHHmm bHHmm cHHmm as required to describe flares observed

Note: / is to be used for data not available.