Temporal properties of HeI 1083 nm dark points

The intensity of a sample of large, high-contrast and isolated dark points has been observed with full-disk images in the light of He I 1083 nm from t he Chromospheric Helium line Intensity Photometer (CHIP) on Mauna Loa, Hawa ii. Temporal variations in the intensity encompassing a broad range of time scales have been recorded. Long-term changes in the intensity, although hi ghly variable, are characterized by e-folding times on the order of 5 h. Su perposed on these variations are frequent intensity variations, which occur over time scales ranging from the typical observing cadence of 3 min, to t ens of minutes. Microflares-involving intensity changes of at least 50% ove r periods of minutes are observed frequently. Rapid cadence (1/2 min) obser vations reveal differences between rise and decay times and shorter-term va riations in the intensity profiles of these microflares.