Solar flare activity changes and global magnetic field disturbances

Time coincidence was compared of the disturbances of the Magnetic Active Longitudes (MALs) - long strips of concentrations of single polarity areas of integrated solar magnetic fields -with the changes in flare numbers per Carrington's rotations during the years 1965-1980. It is shown that especially during the ascending phases of the 20th and mainly the 21st cycle of solar activity, these disturbances of the normal MAL pattern and MAL distribution mode restructuring in the solar equatorial zone correlated well with the maxima of solar flare numbers. The best coincidence was apparent in the negative polarity MALs. The question of geophysical consequences of this close correlation of the global solar magnetic field changes with enhanced flare production and of its physical reason is mentioned. (author). 2 figs., 12 refs