Abstract
A new index, the cumulative difference of sunspot activity in the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively, is proposed to describe the long-term behavior of the North – South asymmetry of sunspot activity and to show the balance (or bias) of sunspot activity in the two solar hemispheres on a long-term scale. Sunspot groups and sunspot areas from June 1874 to January 2007 are used to show the advantage of the index. The index clearly shows a long-term characteristic time scale of about 12 cycles in the North – South asymmetry of sunspot activity. Sunspot activity is found to dominate in the southern hemisphere in cycle 23, and in cycle 24 it is predicted to dominate still in the southern hemisphere. A comparison of the new index with other similar indexes is also given.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Atac, T., Ozguc, A.: 1996, Solar Phys. 166, 201.
Atac, T., Ozguc, A.: 2001, Solar Phys. 198, 399.
Atac, T., Ozguc, A.: 2006, Solar Phys. 233, 139.
Badalyan, O.G., Obridko, V.N., Rybak, J., Sykora, J.: 2005, Astron. Rep. 49, 659.
Bai, T.: 1990, Astrophys. J. 364, L17.
Ballester, J.L., Oliver, R., Carbonell, M.: 2005, Astron. Astrophys. 431, L5.
Carbonell, M., Oliver, R., Ballester, J.L.: 1993, Astron. Astrophys. 332, 339.
Carbonell, M., Terradas, J., Oliver, R., Ballester, J.L.: 2007, Astron. Astrophys. 476, 951.
Chang, H.Y.: 2008, New Astron. 13, 195.
Donner, R., Thiel, M.: 2007, Astron. Astrophys. 475, L33.
Duchlev, P.I.: 2001, Solar Phys. 199, 211.
Duchlev, P.I., Dermendjiev, V.N.: 1996, Solar Phys. 168, 205.
Gigolashvili, M.S.: 2003, New Astron. 8, 529.
Gigolashvili, M.S., Japaridze, D.R., Mdzinarishvili, T.G., Chargeishvili, B.B.: 2005, Solar Phys. 227, 27.
Javaraiah, J.: 2003, Solar Phys. 212, 23.
Jevtic, N., Schweitzer, J.S., Cellucci, C.J.: 2001, Astron. Astrophys. 379, 616.
Joshi, B., Joshi, A.: 2004, Solar Phys. 220, 319.
Joshi, B., Pant, P.: 2005, Astron. Astrophys. 431, 359.
Joshi, B., Pant, P., Manoharan, P.K.: 2006, J. Astrophys. Astron. 27, 151.
Kane, R.P.: 2005a, J. Atmos. Solar Terr. Phys. 67, 429.
Kane, R.P.: 2005b, Solar Phys. 229, 387.
Knaack, R., Stenflo, J.O., Berdygina, S.V.: 2004, Astron. Astrophys. 418, L17.
Knaack, R., Stenflo, J.O., Berdygina, S.V.: 2005, Astron. Astrophys. 438, 1067.
Li, K.J., Schmieder, B., Li, Q.S.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. 131, 99.
Li, K.J., Yun, H.S., Gu, X.M.: 2001, Astrophys. J. 554, L115.
Li, K.J., Gu, X.M., Xiang, F.Y., Liu, X.H., Chen, X.H.: 2000, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 317, 897.
Li, K.J., Wang, J.X., Xiong, S.Y., Liang, H.F., Yun, H.S., Gu, X.M.: 2002, Astron. Astrophys. 383, 648.
Li, K.J., Wang, J.X., Zhan, L.S., Yun, H.S., Liang, H.F., Zhao, H.J., Gu, X.M.: 2003, Solar Phys. 215, 99.
Newton, H.W., Milson, A.S.: 1955, Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 115, 398.
Oliver, R., Ballester, J.L.: 1994, Solar Phys. 152, 481.
Ozguc, A., Atac, T., Rybak, J.: 2003, Solar Phys. 214, 375.
Ozguc, A., Atac, T., Rybak, J.: 2004, Solar Phys. 223, 439.
Temmer, M., Veronig, A., Hanslmeier, A.: 2002, Astron. Astrophys. 390, 707.
Temmer, M., Veronig, A., Hanslmeier, A., Otruba, W., Messerotti, M.: 2001, Astron. Astrophys. 375, 1049.
Temmer, M., Rybak, J., Bendik, P., Veronig, A., Vogler, F., Otruba, W., Potzi, W., Hanslmeier, A.: 2006, Astron. Astrophys. 447, 735.
Verma, V.K.: 1993, Astrophys. J. 403, 797.
Vizoso, G., Ballester, J.L.: 1990, Astron. Astrophys. 229, 540.
Walmeier, M.: 1957, Z. Astrophys. 43, 149.
Zolotova, N.V., Ponyavin, D.I.: 2006, Astron. Astrophys. 449, L1.
Zolotova, N.V., Ponyavin, D.I.: 2007, Solar Phys. 243, 193.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, K.J., Gao, P.X. & Zhan, L.S. The Long-term Behavior of the North – South Asymmetry of Sunspot Activity. Sol Phys 254, 145–154 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-008-9284-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-008-9284-7