The algorithms involved in this study are as follows:1. The Solar Monitor Active Region Tracker (SMART) extracts, characterises, and tracks the evolution of active regions across the solar disk using line-of-sight magnetograms and a combination of image processing techniques. 2. The Automated Solar Activity Prediction code (ASAP) converts continuum images from heliocentric coordinates to Carrington heliographic coordinates, detects and tracks sunspots using thresholding and morphological methods. 3. The Sunspot Tracking And Recognition Algorithm (STARA) is used to detect and track sunspots from continuum images using a technique known as the top-hat transform. 4. The Spatial Possibilistic Clustering Algorithm (SPoCA) is a multi-channel unsupervised spatiallyconstrained fuzzy clustering method that automatically segments solar EUV images into active regions, coronal holes and quiet Sun. In the present paper, it is used to detect, characterise and track coronal active regions.We describe the fundamental properties of each algorithm along with a detailed comparison of outputs obtained from the analysis of about one month of data from the SOHO-MDI and SOHO-EIT instruments during 12 May -23 June, 2003. We track two active regions over time to study their properties in detail, and exploit the entire dataset to investigate correlations between physical properties determined by the algorithms. This study allows us to prepare the algorithms in the best possible way for robust analysis of the large SDO data-stream.The detection rates of the algorithms are compared with findings of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre (SIDC). By performing an inter-comparison of the algorithms, the physical properties of the solar features detected are measured at different heights of the solar atmosphere.
Solar Physics DOI: 10.1007/•••••-•••-•••-••••-•A multi-wavelength analysis of active regions and sunspots by comparison of automatic detection algorithmsThe launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in early 2010 has provided the solar physics community with the most detailed view of the Sun to date. However, this presents new challenges for the analysis of solar data. Currently, SDO sends over 1 terabyte of data per day back to Earth and methods for fast and reliable analysis are more important than ever. This article details four algorithms developed separately at the Universities of Bradford and Glasgow, the Royal Observatory of Belgium and Trinity College Dublin for the purposes of automated detection of solar active regions (ARs) and sunspots at different levels of the solar atmosphere.The algorithms involved in this study are as follows:1. The Solar Monitor Active Region Tracker (SMART) extracts, characterises, and tracks the evolution of active regions across the solar disk using line-ofsight magnetograms and a combination of image processing techniques. 2. The Automated Solar Activity Prediction code (ASAP) converts continuum images from heliocentric coordin...