North–South Asymmetry in the Distribution of Solar Background Magnetic Field

The aim of this article is to investigate how the background magnetic field of the Sun behaves in different hemispheres. We used SOHO/MDI data obtained during a period of eight years from 2003 to 2011 to analyze the intensity distribution of the background magnetic field over the solar surface. We find that the background fields of both polarities (signs) are more intense in the southern than in the northern hemisphere. Mixed polarities are observed in the vicinity of the equator. In addition to the main field, a weaker field of opposite polarity is always present in the polar regions. In the declining phase of the cycle, the main field dominates, but at the minimum and in the rising phase of the cycle, it is gradually replaced by the growing stronger secondary field.     

Structure of solar-wind streams at the maximum of solar cycle 23

We study the formation of solar-wind streams in the years of maximum solar activity 2000–2002. We use observations of the scattering of radio emission by solar-wind streams at distances of ～4–60R_S from the Sun, data on the magnetic field structure and strength in the source region (R ～ 2.5R_S), and observations with the LASCO coronagraph onboard the SOHO spacecraft. Analysis of these data allowed us to investigate the changes in the structure of circumsolar plasma streams during the solar maximum. We constructed radio maps of the solar-wind transition, transonic region in which the heliolatitudinal stream structure is compared with the structure of the white-light corona. We show that the heliolatitudinal structure of the white-light corona largely determines the structure of the solar-wind transition region. We analyze the correlation between the location of the inner boundary of the transition region R_in and the magnetic field strength on the source surface |B_R|. We discuss the peculiarities of the R_in = F(|B_R|) correlation diagrams that distinguish them from similar diagrams at previous phases of the solar cycle.     

On the interpretation of the π-component splitting in sunspot spectra

It is shown that in order to explain the observed splitting of the -component in the sunspot umbra spectrum by the hypothesis of the coexistence in sunspots of weak- and strong-field regions with opposite polarities, one has to admit the additional assumption that in the weak-field regions the Doppler halfwidth ( _D) and the ratio between line opacity and continuum opacity ( ₀) are both less than those in the strong-field regions.     

Solar magnetic fields and the intensity of the green coronal line

Synoptic maps of the intensity of the λ530.5 nm FeXIV green coronal line and maps of computed coronal magnetic fields for the period 1977–2001 are compared. For quantitative comparisons, the correlation coefficients r for the correlation between these two parameters at corresponding points of the synoptic maps are calculated. This coefficient exhibits cyclic variations in the spot-formation zone, ±30° and the zone above 30° and is in antiphase in these two zones. In the low-latitude zone, the correlation coefficient is always positive, reaches its maximum at activity minimum, and strongly decreases by activity maximum. Above 30°, r reaches maximum positive values at activity maximum and then gradually decreases, passing through zero near the beginning of the phase of activity minimum and becoming negative during this phase. A Fourier analysis of r as a function of time reveals a wavelike variation with a period close to 1.3 yr (known also from helioseismological data for the tachoclinic region of magnetic-field generation), as well as a pronounced wave with a period of about 5 yr. The latitude dependence of r seems to be related to variations in the contributions from local, large-scale, and global fields. Our analysis suggests an approach to studying the complex problem of mechanisms for coronal heating.     

On Prediction of the Strength of the 11-Year Solar Cycle No. 24

Various forecast techniques have been analyzed with reference to solar activity cycle 24. Three prediction indices have been proposed: the intensity of the polar field, the mean field at the source surface, and a recurrence index of geomagnetic disturbances. As a rule, the forecast based on the polar field and extrapolation of local fields gives a height for cycle 24 that is smaller than that of cycle 23. The use of the recurrence index and the global field value leads us to the conclusion that cycle 24 will be medium high: the same as or somewhat higher than cycle 23.     

Structure and Cyclic Variations of Open Magnetic Fields in the sun

The structure and variations of open field regions (OFRs) are analyzed against the solar cycle for the time interval of 1970–1996. The cycle of the large-scale magnetic field (LSMF) begins in the vicinity of maximum Wolf numbers, i.e. during the polar field reversal. At the beginning of the LSMF cycle, the polar and mid-latitude magnetic field systems are connected by a narrow bridge, but later they evolve independently. The polar field at the latitudes above 60° has a completely open configuration and fills the whole area of the polar caps near the cycle minimum of local fields. At this time, essentially all of the open solar flux is from the polar caps. The mid-latitude open field regions (OFRs) occur at a latitude of 30–40° away from solar minimum and drift slowly towards the equator to form a typical 'butterfly diagram' at the periphery of the local field zone. This supports the concept of a single complex – 'large-scale magnetic field – active region – coronal hole'. The rotation characteristics of OFRs have been analyzed to reveal a near solid-body rotation, much more rigid than in the case of sunspots. The rotation characteristics are shown to depend on the phase of the solar cycle.     

Parameters of the Geomagnetic Activity,Thermosphere, and Ionosphere for the Ultimately Intense Magnetic Storm

Equations of regression are derived for the intense magnetic storms of 1957?2016. They reflect the nonlinear relation between Dst_min and the effective index of geomagnetic activity Ap(τ) with a timeweighted factor τ. Based on this and on known estimations of the upper limit of the magnetic storm intensity (Dst_min =–2500 nT), the maximal possible value Ap(τ)_max ~ 1000 nT is obtained. This makes it possible to obtain initial estimates of the upper limit of variations in some parameters of the thermosphere and ionosphere that are due to geomagnetic activity. It is found, in particular, that the upper limit of an increase in the thermospheric density is seven to eight times larger than for the storm in March 1989, which was the most intense for the entire space era. The maximum possible amplitude of the negative phase of the ionospheric storm in the number density of the F₂-layer maximum at midlatitudes is nearly six times higher than for the March 1989 storm. The upper limit of the F₂-layer rise in this phase of the ionospheric storm is also considerable. Based on qualitative analysis, it is found that the F₂-layer maximum in daytime hours at midlatitudes for these limiting conditions is not pronounced and even may be unresolved in the experiment, i.e., above the F₁-layer maximum, the electron number density may smoothly decrease with height up to the upper boundary of the plasmasphere.     

The Young Sun,Conditions on the Early Earth,and the Origin of Life

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The article analyzes the existing theoretical models of the formation of the solar system and the early physical conditions on Earth from the point of view of the...     

Comparison of the magnetic properties of leading and following spots and the overlying ultraviolet emission

SDO/HMI and SDO/AIA data for the 24th solar-activity cycle are analyzed using a quicker and more accurate method for resolving π ambiguities in the transverse component of the photospheric magnetic field, yielding new results and confirming some earlier results on the magnetic properties of leading and following magnetically connected spots and single spots. The minimum inclination of the field lines to the positive normal to the solar surface α _min within umbrae is smaller in leading than in following spots in 78% of the spot pairs considered; the same trend is found for the mean angle 〈α〉 in 83% of the spot pairs. Positive correlations between the α _min values and the 〈α〉 values in leading and following spots are also found. On average, in umbrae, the mean values of 〈B〉, the umbra area S, and the angles α _min and 〈α〉 decrease with growth in the maximum magnetic field B _max in both leading and following spots. The presence of a positive correlation between B _max and S is confirmed, and a positive correlation between 〈B〉 and S in leading and following spots has been found. Themagnetic properties of the umbrae of magnetically connected pairs of spots are compared with the contrast of the He II 304 emission above the umbrae, C ₃₀₄. Spots satisfying certain conditions display a positive correlation between C _304?L and 〈α _L 〉 for the leading (L) spots, and between C _304?L /C _304?F and l _L /l _F , where l _L (l _F ) are the lengths of the field lines connecting leading (L) or following (F) spots from the corresponding spot umbrae to the apex of the field line.     

Diagnostics of solar wind streams and their sources in the solar corona

The studies are based on the experimental mass sounding of the interplanetary plasma near the Sun at radial distances of R = 4−70 R _S, performed at Pushchino RAO, Russian Academy of Sciences, and on the calculated magnetic fields in the solar corona based on the magnetic field strength and structure measured on the Sun’s surface at J. Wilcox Solar Observatory, United States. The experimental data make it possible to localize the position of the boundary closest to the Sun of the transition transonic region of the solar wind in the near-solar space (R ≈ 10−20 R _S) and to perform an interrelated study of the solar wind structure and its sources, namely, the magnetic field components in the solar corona based on these data. An analysis of the evolution of the flow types in 2000–2007 makes it possible to formulate the physically justified criterion responsible for the time boundaries of different epochs in the solar activity cycle.