Persistent Active Longitudes in Sunspot Activity: Sun-as-a-Star Approach
Abstract
An analysis of sunspot group data for the past 120 years reveals that sunspots are formed preferably in two persistent migrating active longitudes 180 degrees apart. Their migration is determined by changes of the mean latitude of sunspots and the surface differential rotation. The two active regions periodically alternate being the dominant region with a period of about 3.5-3.7 years similar to the ""flip-flop"" phenomenon known in starspot activity. The fact that the Sun shows the same pattern of magnetic activity as highly active stars strengthens the solar paradigm for magnetic activity on cool stars allowing the physics of the activity on such stars to be understood within the context of the physical principles deduced from the study of the Sun.
- Publication:
-
Stars as Suns : Activity, Evolution and Planets
- Pub Date:
- January 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004IAUS..219..128B