Understanding the coupling of the solar photosphere and low atmosphere through high-resolution analysis of sunspot dynamics

Sunspots provide a unique way of understanding the coupling mechanisms between the solar interior and atmosphere. Recent improvements in observations allow us to track and characterise sunspots with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. Despite this, most sunspot dynamics analyses are limited to a few case studies, and the question of how sunspots evolve during their lifetime is still unanswered. This project develops a comprehensive method to monitor sunspots, and will make detailed analysis of translational and torsional motions of single, paired, and grouped sunspots. Our main aims are to (1) understand the three-dimensional dynamics of magnetic flux tubes that are responsible for the formation of sunspots and (2) find correlation with flares or other energetic events, and signatures of other, slower, changes (including loop cooling or heating) in the associated active regions. This project provides a new, efficient and robust method for exploiting high-resolution data of the solar photosphere with implications for planned future missions such as Solar Orbiter and DKIST.