Formation of a Transequatorial Loop
System(TLS): A Case Study of the TLS Connecting NOAA8210 and NOAA8214        

M. Yokoyama (Nagoya Univ.) and S. Masuda

A large-scale magnetic loop system connecting the northern and the southern 
hemisphere (transequatorial loop system : TLS), is one of hot topics in 
these several years. However, the formation process of TLSs is still not clear.
 Tsuneta (1996) gave an explanation for formation of a particular TLS as 
the result of magnetic reconnection by expansion of two active regions. 
Even in the case that there is a large difference in longitude between two 
active regions, there aren?ft few TLSs connecting them obliquely beyond the 
equator. Does the same mechanism work to form such a TLS? We focus our 
research interest on the initial phase of the TLS connecting NOAA8210 and 
NOAA8214. It is difficult to conclude that this TLS is formed like the 
Tsuneta?fs case. Before it is formed, there is a small bright region in soft 
X-rays, which is connected with each active region by the two different 
large-scale loop systems. These loop systems might play an important role 
to form the TLS. We will discuss possible scenarios of how the TLS is formed.