Vertical structure of the solar photosphere
Abstract
Observations of intensity structures seen in the wings of the Mg b2 line from both quiet and active regions of the sun are presented. A linear statistical analysis indicates that at least three distinct intensity (temperature) components are present: a very low photospheric component seen at all scales, and two components in the upper atmosphere, one in the high photosphere at scales smaller than 5 arcsec in the quiet atmosphere and one in the middle-high photosphere at larger scales. Only the former is strictly granulation. The physical processes underlying each component in quiet regions are tentatively identified as convection, gravity waves and network. Active regions appear to differ only in the relative contribution of these components.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981A&A....95..221D
- Keywords:
-
- Photosphere;
- Solar Granulation;
- Solar Spectra;
- Solar Temperature;
- Stellar Structure;
- Vertical Distribution;
- Gravity Waves;
- Line Spectra;
- Scale Effect;
- Solar Oscillations;
- Temperature Distribution;
- Velocity Distribution;
- Solar Physics