Small-scale magnetic reconnection in the quiet Sun

Recent observations indicate that small-scale magnetic reconnection ubiquitously occurs in the quiet Sun as well as in active regions. Particularly interesting is the latest finding of close associations among (1) magnetic flux cancellation seen from photospheric magnetograms, (2) chromospheric upflow events seen in the H alpha line and (3) transition region explosive events seen in UV lines. I present a brief review of this finding, and propose a schematic two-step magnetic reconnection model to explain it. The essence of the model is in the formation of magnetic islands as a result of slow magnetic reconnection occurring in the low atmosphere. Magnetic islands are ejected and accelerated upward by the so-called diamagnetic melon seed mechanism, and are eventually annihilated by overlying magnetic field lines through fast magnetic reconnection. I consider photospheric flux cancellation as a direct result of the first magnetic reconnection, and identify chromospheric upflow events with upward moving magnetic islands, and explosive events with the hotter material ejected from the second magnetic reconnection.