Ephemeral region flares and the diffusion of the network

The flare-like events which are frequently seen in Hα in apparently quiet regions of the solar disk can in all cases be identified with bipolar features (ephemeral regions, ER) on magnetograms. These events represent the Hα counterpart of X-ray bright point flares. Statistically, this phenomenon is associated with the proximity of the bipolar features to the super-granulation network, in the sense that an ER is likely to flare during its lifetime if the distance to the nearest network element is less than or equal to its own pole separation. This conclusion is supported by direct study of time sequences of magnetograms and Hα pictures, which manifest the interaction of ER with the supergranulation network. The flare-like brightenings in some examples occurred in the region of interaction between network flux and one pole of the ER. The consequence of this interaction is that small quantities of network flux are transported over distances of the order of the ER pole separations. This may have an important effect on the long-term diffusion of magnetic flux. (Auth.)