Abstract
The nature and behaviour of large-scale patterns on the solar surface, indicated by the areas of brightness-temperature depressions in the millimetric wavelength range, is studied. A large sample of 346 individual, low-temperature regions (LTRs) was employed to provide reliable statistical evidence. An association of 99% was found between the locations of LTRs and the large-scale magnetic field inversion lines, and 60% of the LTRs were associated with the inversion line filaments. A tentative physical association with filaments is reconsidered, and one particularly well-observed case is presented. The heights of the perturbers causing brightness-temperature depressions are discussed. The long-term evolution of the latitudinal distribution of LTRs is presented in a butterfly diagram. Two belts of low-temperature regions outline the active region belts, shifting with them towards the equator during the solar activity cycle. The low-temperature region belts of the forthcoming cycle appear already at the maximum of the actual cycle at latitudes of about 55 °. The superpositions of the temperature minima distributions in the synoptic maps show patterns appearing as ‘giant cells’ and compatible with indications inferred from magnetographic data. The reliability of the inferred cells is considered, and a statistical analysis reveals a negligible probability for an accidental distribution appearing in the form of giant cells.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ambrož, P.: 1987, Bull. Astron. Inst. Czech. 38, 110.
Bumba, V.: 1987, Bull. Astron. Inst. Czech. 38, 92.
Chiuderi-Drago, F.: 1990, in V. Ruždjak and E. Tandberg-Hanssen (eds.), ‘Dynamics of Solar Prominences’, IAU Colloq. 117; Lecture Notes in Physics, Vol. 363, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 70.
Chiuderi, C. and Chiuderi-Drago, F.: 1991, Solar Phys. 132, 81.
Hiei, E., Ishiguro, M., Kosugi, T., and Shibasaki, K.: 1986, Proc. Workshop on Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conf. Publ. 2442, p. 109.
Howard, R. and LaBonte, B. J.: 1980, Astrophys. J. 239, L33.
Kundu, M. R., Fürst, E., Hirth, W., and Butz, M.: 1978, Astron. Astrophys. 62, 431.
Liu, S.-Y. and Kundu, M. R.: 1976, Solar Phys. 46, 15.
McIntosh, P. S.: 1972, in P. S. McIntosh and M. Dryer (eds.), Solar Activity, Observations and Predictions, MIT Press.
Mouradian, Z. and Soru-Escaut, I.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, 379.
Pohjolainen, S., Vršnak, B., Teräsranta, H., Urpo, S., Brajša, R., Jurač, S., and Schroll, A.: 1991, in I. Tuominen, D. Moss, and G. Rüdiger (eds.), ‘Sun and Cool Stars’, IAU Colloq. 130; Lecture Notes in Physics, Vol. 380, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 279.
Schmahl, E. J., Bobrowsky, M., and Kundu, M. R.: 1981, Solar Phys. 71, 311.
Schröter, E. H. and Wöhl, H.: 1976, Solar Phys. 49, 19.
Schröter, E. H., Wöhl, H., Soltau, D., and Vazquez, M.: 1978, Solar Phys. 60, 181.
Schwan, H. and Wöhl, H.: 1978, Astron. Astrophys. 70, 297.
Sheeley, N. R., Jr., Nash, A. G., and Wang, Y.-M.: 1987, Astrophys. J. 319, 481.
Stenflo, J. O.: 1989, Astron. Astrophys. Rev. 1, 3.
Stix, M.: 1989, The Sun, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1977, in A. Bruzek, and C. J. Durrant (eds.), Illustrated Glosary for Solar and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Astrophys. Space Sci. Library, Vol. 69, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holand, p. 102.
Tucker, W. H.: 1975, Radiation Processes in Astrophysics, MIT, Cambridge.
Urpo, S., Pohjolainen, S., and Teräsranta, H.: 1987, Solar Microwave Radiation Maps Measured at Metsähovi Radio Research Station in 1978–79 (Report A1), Helsinki University of Technology.
Urpo, S., Pohjolainen, S., Teräsranta, H., Vršnak, A., Ruždjak, V., and Brajša, R.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, 437.
Wöhl, H.: 1990, Publ. Debrecen Heliophys. Obs. 7, 19.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vršnak, B., Pohjolainen, S., Urpo, S. et al. Large-scale patterns on the Sun observed in the millimetric wavelength range. Sol Phys 137, 67–86 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146576
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146576