Prominences and Magnetic Fields

Prominences are usually associated with regions of sunspot activity, and are clearly manifestations of the Sun's magnetic field. They tend to lie on the boundary of regions having opposite magnetic polarity. The streaming arches and their stability for days at a time are associated with magnetic forces acting on the charged particles in the loops.

It is thought that the violently eruptive prominences that are sometimes observed are associated with sudden changes in the magnetic field of the Sun.