Paper Title:
Quantifying Complexity in Solar Active Regions

Author List:
McAteer, R.T.J., Gallagher, P.T., & Ireland, J.

Abstract:

A new approach to solar flare prediction using the fractal dimension of active
region boundaries is discussed. This automated, quantified approach uses
magnetograms of active regions from a large data set (8/11 of the solar cycle
to date) to produce flare prediction statistics. It is shown that solar flares 
increase in both number and size as the fractal dimension increases.
Specifically a lower threshold fractal dimension of 1.2, and 1.25 is a
necessary (but not sufficient) requirement ) for an active region to produce
M- and X- class events respectively. A quantitative analysis of the flare
potential on active region as it grows, evolves, and decays is also 
discusseed.