Different Signatures of Chromospheric Evaporation in Two Solar Flares Observed with IRIS

Abstract

Abstract We present different signatures of chromospheric evaporation in two solar flares observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). In the B1.6 flare on 2016 December 6 (SOL2016-12-06T10:40), the transition region Si iv line and the chromospheric C ii and Mg ii lines show blueshifts with low velocities up to 20 km s−1 at the flare loop footpoints in the rise phase, indicative of a gentle chromospheric evaporation. While in the C1.6 flare on 2015 December 19 (SOL2015-12-19T10:51), the Si iv, C ii, and Mg ii lines exhibit redshifts with velocities from several to tens of km s−1 at the footpoints, which might suggest an explosive chromospheric evaporation. Explosive evaporation has been observed in many flares that were captured by IRIS; however, gentle evaporation, especially manifested as blueshifts in the cool Si iv, C ii, and Mg ii lines, has scarcely been reported. Our results bring some new insights into chromospheric evaporation in the IRIS era.