Topics about flares and sunspot regions. What do you think?

[Marcel de Bont]

We are noticing a trend where there are discussions going on in multiple topics about the same event.

For example, sunspot region XYZ produces a major X100 flare and the X100 flare is being discussed both in the topic about sunspot region XYZ and in a separate topic dedicated to the X100 flare.

Should we keep it this way where there topics about both flares and sunspot regions or should everything be contained to the sunspot regions topic? What does the community prefer? I see pros and cons with both solutions but I want to know what the community thinks.

[tniickck]

it's superfluous. what if 1 region produces 10 X-flares, so should we make 10 topics for each one? 

[Jesterface23]

It would pretty much needs its own sub-forum like how Earth-directed CMEs go under Geomagnetic activity now or a single topic like Filaments. Though they will always be linked to the region, so I dunno.

[mozy]

Not a fan of these multiple topics, I've been confused this whole week due to people typing about the same event in 2 different places.

[Veggi]

Maybe there could be a long term topic for discussion for large flares alongside region discussions so it is at least all contained?

I figure this could increase clarity while giving people a place to excitedly discuss the flare itself.

 

 

 

[Jesterface23]

Are the flare topics created in confusion as to not knowing where they came from or just not looking into it? I haven't been keeping track of every topic on flares.

[hamateur 1953]

Compounded by errors many times simply due to attribution.  Fortunately yesterday @3gMike caught my missive before it got too hairy. ( I think). Solar soft had listed an X flare as having come from 3571 instead of its originator 3576!  Sheesh.  I had assumed it was 3576.!    I wonder how many times a year they misattribute.  Anyone know?    I suppose if we allowed a separate topic posting in the “ other” region it is still going to show up as most recent ( where I usually look first anyway). If. It gets confusing now, it will only likely become worse with thirty active regions spitting Filaments and Flares  simultaneously in a few months!  Haha.  Ouch!!   Edit:  Let me add here for any newcomers.  The use of Hot Topic here is especially helpful to me!  If I have missed something recently, this is the first place I usually look.  Invariably when I read the comments quickly, it becomes rapidly clear exactly what region blew its top!   Haha 

Edited February 16 by hamateur 1953
Afterthought

[Philalethes]

I think discussion about flares should be confined to the topics dedicated to the AR associated with the flare.

If a flare produces a significant CME, on the other hand, a separate topic for that seems appropriate (which I believe is how it's been done lately).

[Drax Spacex]

Could keep a single topic ("AR3576") and if a particularly strong flare occurs from it, optionally change the title e.g. ("AR3576 with X2.5 flare").

[mozy]

1 hour ago, Drax Spacex said:

Could keep a single topic ("AR3576") and if a particularly strong flare occurs from it, optionally change the title e.g. ("AR3576 with X2.5 flare").

I only agree with this if It's from an earth facing position with a decent CME, otherwise I just find it really unnecessary.& rather obnoxious.

Edit: I read it wrong, changing the title for that one topic is better so I do agree with your comment.

Edited February 16 by mozy

[Sam Warfel]

I agree that flares should only be discussed in their reverent sunspot region threads.  As others have mentioned, sometimes there are errors due to misattribution or whatnot, those can be fixed by mods moving posts and merging threads.

I was under the impression that that was the principle we had been operating under for quite some time.  Sometimes new users post about flares in the wrong threads, but I have been moving those as soon as I see them.  This happened once in the last 12 hours or so, I  didn’t see it and fix it before this discussion was started.

@Marcel de Bont

[Marcel de Bont]

I think the poll is pretty clear. Flares should be discussed in their respective sunspot region topics from now on.

Behind the scenes we have made some more changes to keep everything a bit more organized in the future.

We added forum specific rules in the forums description so everybody knows what to do and what not to do.

We expanded and clarified old rules so we hopefully have a more tidier forum now that solar maximum is upon us.

We made three dedicated threads where filament, coronal holes and incoming sunspot regions can be discussed. Some of the old threads were getting huge and we also added links to our help articles to get more exposure there. Hope these changes will benefit the solar activity forum and are going to be respected by the community. Thanks everybody for making SpaceWeatherLive the place to be to discuss everything space weather related!

[Sam Warfel]

Thank you for your feedback on our poll, folks!