Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 March 2016
We introduce a method to calculate the magnetic helicity density in a given active-region vector magnetogram, and a lower limit of it, based on a linear force-free (Iff) approximation. Moreover, we provide a lower limit of the total magnetic helicity in the active region (AR). A time series of magnetograms can be used to calculate the rate of helicity transport. The results can be then correlated with manifestations of the dynamical activity in ARs, such as flares and filament eruptions.