The automatic processing and analysis of solar image sequences

An algorithm for the analysis of sequential images of the Sun is presented and tested with the imagery obtained by the SOHO satellite. In the context of space weather monitoring, it is interesting to reveal the sources of fast solar wind on the surface of the Sun. Examples of such sources are coronal holes, which may cause a fast flow of solar wind when crossing the central meridian of the Sun. The proposed algorithm determines the area and location of coronal holes. The calculated dynamics of the hole areas and of the observed solar wind velocity are compared from August 1 to December 31, 2003. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2006.