Coronal Activity During the 22-Year Solar Magnetic Cycle

The existence of a 22-year heliomagnetic cycle was inferred long ago not only from direct measurements of the solar magnetic field but also from a cyclic variability of a number of the solar activity phenomena. In particular, it was stated (a rule derived after Gnevyshev and Ohl (1948) findings and referenced as the G–O rule in the following) that if sunspot number Rz cycles are organized in pairs of even–odd numbered cycles, then the height of the peak in the curve of the yearly-averaged sunspot numbers Rz-y is always lower for a given even cycle in comparison with the corresponding height of the following odd cycle. Exceptions to this rule are only cycles 4 and 8 which, at the same time, are the nearest even cycles to the limits of the so-called Dalton minimum of solar activity (i.e., the 1795–1823 time interval). In the present paper, we are looking for traces of the mentioned G–O rule in green corona brightness (measured in terms of the Fexiv 530.3 nm emission line intensity), using data covering almost five solar cycles (1943–1994). It was found that the G–O rule seems to work within the green-line corona brightness, namely, when coronal intensity measured in an extended solar middle-latitude zone is considered separately from the rest of the solar surface. On the other hand, the same G–O rule is valid at the photospheric level, as the heliographic latitudinal dependence of sunspot numbers (1947–1984) shows.     

Rotation of Plasma in Sunspots

In this paper we present the results of a sunspot rotation study using Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory photoheliogram data for 324 sunspots. The rotation amplitudes vary in theinebreak 2–64° range (with maximum at 12–14°), and the periods around 0–20 days (with maximum atinebreak 4–6 days). It could be concluded that sunspot rotations are rather inhomogeneous and asymmetric, but several types of sunspots are distinguished by their rotational parameters.During solar activity maximum, sunspot average rotation periods and amplitudes slightly increase. This can be affected by the increase of sunspot magnetic flux tube depth. So we can suppose that sunspot formation during solar activity is connected to a rise of magnetic tubes from deeper layers of the solar photosphere, strengthening the processes within the tube and causing variations in rotation.There is a linear relation between tilt-angle oscillation periods and amplitudes, showing higher amplitudes for large periods. The variations of those periods and especially amplitudes have a periodical shape for all types of sunspots and correlate well with the solar activity maxima with a phase delay of about 1–2 years.     

Two Populations of Sunspots: Differential Rotation

To investigate the differential rotation of sunspot groups using the Greenwich data, we propose an approach based on a statistical analysis of the histograms of particular longitudinal velocities in different latitude intervals. The general statistical velocity distributions for all such intervals are shown to be described by two rather than one normal distribution, so that two fundamental rotation modes exist simultaneously: fast and slow. The differentiality of rotation for the modes is the same: the coefficient at sin² in Faye’s law is 2.87–2.88 deg/day, while the equatorial rotation rates differ significantly, 0.27 deg/day. On the other hand, an analysis of the longitudinal velocities for the previously revealed two differing populations of sunspot groups has shown that small short-lived groups (SSGs) are associated with the fast rotation mode, while large long-lived groups (LLGs) are associated with both fast and slow modes. The results obtained not only suggest a real physical difference between the two populations of sunspots but also give new empirical data for the development of a dynamo theory, in particular, for the theory of a spatially distributed dynamo.     

Solar Rotation Rate during Solar Activity Cycle 23

We studied the solar rotation rate and its temporal change, using the sunspot data obtained during activity cycle 23 (1996 – 2006). The equatorial rotation rate is nearly the same as in the former cycle 22, while the latitudinal gradient of differential rotation considerably increased. Comparison of our results with others indicates the existence of a long-term periodicity of about eight cycles in differential rotation. In addition, no significant asymmetry in differential rotation between the northern and southern hemispheres during cycle 23 was found. The equatorial rotation rate and the latitudinal gradient of the differential rotation in the period of cycle 23 are approximately constant, except for the initial and final phases in the cycle.     

The Shape of Sunspots and Solar Activity Cycles

Solar Physics - A new open-source software, called SunMap, has been developed to obtain synoptic maps in an easy and quick way from multiple full-disc solar images. Our objective is to provide a...     

Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Irradiance Measurements During Solar Cycle 22

The solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance, the dominant global energy source for Earth's atmosphere above 100 km, is not known accurately enough for many studies of the upper atmosphere. During the absence of direct solar EUV irradiance measurements from satellites, the solar EUV irradiance is often estimated at the 30–50% uncertainty level using both proxies of the solar irradiance and earlier solar EUV irradiance measurements, primarily from the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory (now Phillips Laboratory) rockets and Atmospheric Explorer (AE) instruments. Our sounding rocket measurements during solar cycle 22 include solar EUV irradiances below 120 nm with 0.2 nm spectral resolution, far ultraviolet (FUV) airglow spectra below 160 nm, and solar soft X-ray (XUV) images at 17.5 nm. Compared to the earlier observations, these rocket experiments provide a more accurate absolute measurement of the solar EUV irradiance, because these instruments are calibrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with a radiometric uncertainty of about 8%. These more accurate sounding-rocket measurements suggest revisions of the previous reference AE–E spectra by as much as a factor of 2 at some wavelengths. Our sounding-rocket flights during the past several years (1988–1994) also provide information about solar EUV variability during solar cycle 22.     

The Characteristic Sizes of the Sunspots and Pores in Solar Cycle 24

Recent dedicated Hinode polar region campaigns revealed the presence of concentrated kilogauss patches of the magnetic field in the polar regions of the Sun, which are also shown to be correlated with facular bright points at the photospheric level. In this work, we demonstrate that this spatial intermittency of the magnetic field persists even up to the chromospheric heights. The small-scale bright elements visible in the bright network lanes of the solar network structure as seen in the Ca ii H images are termed network bright points. We use special Hinode campaigns devoted to the observation of polar regions of the Sun to study the polar network bright points during the phase of the last extended solar minimum. We use Ca ii H images of chromosphere observed by the Solar Optical Telescope. For magnetic field information, level-2 data of the spectro-polarimeter is used. We observe a considerable association between the polar network bright points and magnetic field concentrations. The intensity of such bright points is found to be correlated well with the photospheric magnetic field strength underneath with a linear relation existing between them.

     

太阳22周峰年若干特点

本文讨论了第２２太阳活动周的下列重要特点：１．呈现双峰，并在双峰期的槽中又突起孤立的单峰。２．黑子面积峰值滞后相对数峰值的仅占１６．６７％；黑子面积与相对数同步占５８．３３％；二者峰值不能对应占２５％。３．１９８６年１０月以后，纬度≥３０°的有半影的黑子群共出现８７群；延迟在峰年期间出现的有５３群，占６０．９２％；对应有Ｍ级以上Ｘ射线爆发的活动区１８个，占２０．６９％。这一现象与“蝴蝶图”规律不符。     

Observations of the Polar Magnetic Fields During the Polarity Reversals of Cycle 22

The Mount Wilson synoptic magnetic data for the period September 1987 through March 1996 are completely revised and used to provide polar plots of the solar magnetic fields for both hemispheres. This period, from Carrington rotations 1793 to 1906, covers the reversals of the polar magnetic fields in cycle 22. Comparison of our plots with the presently available H filtergrams for this period shows that the polarity boundaries are consistent in these two data sets where they overlap. The Mount Wilson plots show that the polar field reversals involve a complex sequence of events. Although the details differ slightly, the basic patterns are similar in each hemisphere. First the old polarity becomes isolated at the pole, then shortly thereafter, the isolation is broken, and the polar field includes unipolar regions of both polarities. The old polarity then reclaims the polar region, but when the isolation of this field is established for a second time, it declines in both area and strength. We take the reversal to be complete when the old polarity field is no longer observed in the Mount Wilson plots. With this criterion we find that the polar field reversal is completed in the north by CR 1836, i.e., by December 1990, and in the south by CR 1853, i.e., March 1992.     

The rise of solar Cycle number 22

The new solar cycle, denoted Cycle 22, has risen faster than of any of the previous 21 cycles, indicating that the cycle is likely to be of large amplitude. Moreover, the rapid rise suggests that the cycle could be arriving early, perhaps similar to the phase advance which occurred during Cycles 1–4. The rapid early rise of Cycle 22 also suggests that there might be a connection with the period of extraordinarily low geomagnetic activity centred on 1980. If this is the case, then the suppression of geomagnetic activity is the first sign of a new cycle, in this case approximately 7 years prior to the official start of the cycle. This idea is consistent with recent ideas on the solar cycle and has significant implications for geomagnetic disturbance forecasting.     

Nature of Tilt Angles of Sunspot Groups During the 22nd Solar Cycle

Daily white-light images from Kodaikanal Observatory have been utilized to study the nature of tilt angles of sunspot groups during the 22nd solar cycle. 2416 spot groups have been measured to find the tilt angle. An average tilt angle of +4.6 ± 0.4 deg has been obtained for all these spot groups, where the positive sign indicates that the leading part of the group is closer to the equator. It is found that the number of poleward and equatorward spot groups showed an opposite trend as the cycle advanced. The spot groups with positive (equatorward) tilt angles declined in number whereas the spot groups with negative (poleward) tilt angles increased towards the end of the cycle. It is also noticed that the number of spot groups, which changed the sign of tilt angle during their lifetime or passage across the disc, increased during the maximum activity period of the cycle. These findings were confirmed from the analysis of data from the 21st cycle. These results are discussed in this paper along with the daily variation of tilt angles of some of the spot groups from the selected data.     

Solar Rotation And Cycle Length

A positive correlation is suggested between solar rotation rate and solar cycle length for cycles 12 to 20. This result seems to be opposite to recent observations in solar-type stars and the Sun and yields inverse correlations between cycle lengths and chromospheric activity, but it agrees with previous work with solar-type stars and the Sun suggesting a positive correlation between cycle length and rotation rate. Estimates of solar cycle length for the Maunder minimum suggest a length 17 yr.     

太阳二十二周峰年云南天文台四波段射电同步观测结果

本文主要介绍云南天文台“四波段太阳射电高时间分辨率同步观测系统”（１．４２，２．１３，２．８４和４．２６ＧＨｚ）１９８９年１２月至１９９３年４月观测事件的统计结果，对１０２个射电爆发进行了初步分析，着重揭示几个类别典型事件的时间轮廓，说明射电高时间分辨率观测的意义。     

22周上升相日面各经度带的活动规律

本文回顾了１９８３年以来一些对太阳活动的谱分析结果。大致可分为两种规律：在太阳活动１１年周期的上升相一般呈现８０天左右的周期。下降相呈现１５０天左右的周期。这些规律均是由太阳全日面总体活动指数得到的谱分析结果。文中将第２２周上升段（１９８７．１．１—１９８８．７．３１）的太阳黑子群和Ｘ射线耀斑按经度带作了极大熵谱估计。结果表明，各经度带的活动规律不同，同一经度带内，太阳黑子群和Ｘ射线耀斑的出现规律也不尽相同。这种将事件按经度带分布得到的活动规律对事件本身的中期预报将会有实际应用价值。     

Periodicities in Irradiance and in other Solar Activity Indices During Cycle 23

Magnetic fields give rise to distinctive features in different solar atmospheric regimes. To study this, time variations of the flare index, sunspot number and sunspot area, each index arising from different physical conditions, were compared with the solar composite irradiance throughout cycle 23. Rieger-type periodicities in these time series were calculated using Fourier and wavelet transforms (WTs). The peaks of the wavelet power of these periodicities appeared between the years 1999 and 2002. We found that the solar irradiance oscillations are less significant than those in the other indices during this cycle. The irradiance shows non-periodic fluctuations during this time interval. The peaks of the flare index, sunspot number and sunspot total area were seen around 2000.4, 1999.9 and 2001.0, respectively. These periodicities appeared intermittently and were not simultaneous in different solar activity indices during the three years of the maximum phase of solar cycle 23.     

Stellar Rotation and Activity

This review is limited to solar-type stars (late-F to early-K main sequence stars) and to recent developments in the study of the evolution of angular momentum in those stars. Observations of rotation in young clusters are discussed, together with the models that have been put forth to account for what is seen. One key question is whether or not the convective envelopes of solar-type stars decouple from the radiative cores when the stars near the Zero-Age Main Sequence. That question cannot yet be answered, but forthcoming observations are likely to address the issue. Another significant open question is the degree to which any one cluster of stars is typical of all stars at that age, and that too is near to being resolved as we reach deeper into the Galaxy at high spectroscopic resolution. Finally, some general properties of activity in solar-type stars are presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

日面新生黑子的经度分布

以云南天文台对５２２个太阳自转周的观测资料统计,在可见日面上新生的黑子,各个太阳活动周出现频数不等。从中筛选出面积ＣＹ≥５００的２２８群,以及ＣＹ≥１２００的２９群,它们分别都在经度上呈相对集中性,但又多随时间变化而漂移,在时间分布上无规律性。在可比的太阳第２１和２２活动周内,新生黑子对应的最强烈活动区只有８１２００和９２３９０,另外是８２４９５回转的８２５３３对应在最强烈活区,说明新生大黑子无固定的活动源。