TIE:

SECOND PLACE - SESSION B (Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical Sciences, Microbiology, Physics and Astronomy)

A Solar Study at 20.1 MHz

Katie Sloop, Tamke-Allan Observatory, Roane Sate Community College

The energy output of the sun encompasses the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays.   This study was undertaken to understand what solar phenomena are associated with the sun's low frequency radio emissions seen at 20.1 MHz. Two automatic monitoring systems, one at the Tamke-Allan Observatory near Rockwood, TN and one located in Oak Ridge were utilized to survey solar radio output. Solar physical data including the presence of sunspots, their surface area and magnetic complexity, x-ray flares, coronal mass ejections,   and other solar events was retrieved daily from internet accessible data bases.   Numerous radio signals were directly correlated with x-ray flares and coronal mass ejections. Statistical results (regression analyses and one-way ANOVAs) indicated a significant relationship exists between the daily duration of radio signals, the total sunspot area and the spot's magnetic complexity. Furthermore, increases in x-ray flare output are related to increasing sunspot area and complexity.