Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Relationship Between the Solar Rotation and Activity Analysed by Tracing Sunspot Groups

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The sunspot position published in the data bases of the Greenwich Photoheliographic Results (GPR), the US Air Force Solar Optical Observing Network and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USAF/NOAA), and of the Debrecen Photoheliographic Data (DPD) in the period 1874 to 2016 were used to calculate yearly values of the solar differential-rotation parameters \(A\) and \(B\). These differential-rotation parameters were compared with the solar-activity level. We found that the Sun rotates more differentially at the minimum than at the maximum of activity during the epoch 1977 – 2016. An inverse correlation between equatorial rotation and solar activity was found using the recently revised sunspot number. The secular decrease of the equatorial rotation rate that accompanies the increase in activity stopped in the last part of the twentieth century. It was noted that when a significant peak in equatorial rotation velocity is observed during activity minimum, the next maximum is weaker than the previous one.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abarbanell, C., Wöhl, H.: 1981, Solar rotation velocity as determined from sunspot drawings of Hevelius, J. in the 17th-century. Solar Phys. 70, 197. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antia, H.M., Basu, S.: 2001, Temporal variations of the solar rotation rate at high latitudes. Astrophys. J. Lett. 559, L67. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Badalyan, O.G., Obridko, V.N.: 2017, 22-year cycle of differential rotation of the solar corona and the rule by Gnevyshev–Ohl. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 466, 4535. DOI . ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Balthasar, H., Vazquez, M., Wöhl, H.: 1986, Differential rotation of sunspot groups in the period from 1874 through 1976 and changes of the rotation velocity within the solar cycle. Astron. Astrophys. 155, 87. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Baranyi, T., Győri, L., Ludmány, A.: 2016, On-line tools for solar data compiled at the Debrecen observatory and their extensions with the Greenwich sunspot data. Solar Phys. 291, 3081. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brajša, R., Ruždjak, D., Wöhl, H.: 2006, Temporal variations of the solar rotation determined by sunspot groups. Solar Phys. 237, 365. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brajša, R., Ruždjak, V., Vršnak, B., Pohjolainen, S., Urpo, S., Schroll, A., Wöhl, H.: 1997, On the possible changes of the solar differential rotation during the activity cycle determined using microwave low-brightness regions and H filaments as tracers. Solar Phys. 171, 1. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brajša, R., Wöhl, H., Vršnak, B., Ruždjak, D., Sudar, D., Roša, D., Hržina, D.: 2002, Differential rotation of stable recurrent sunspot groups. Solar Phys. 206, 229. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brun, A.S.: 2004, On the interaction between differential rotation and magnetic fields in the Sun. Solar Phys. 220, 333. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brun, A.S., Miesch, M.S., Toomre, J.: 2004, Global-scale turbulent convection and magnetic dynamo action in the solar envelope. Astrophys. J. 614, 1073. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, R.H., Dikpati, M., Brandenburg, A.: 2016, The global solar dynamo. Space Sci. Rev.. DOI . ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Clette, F., Svalgaard, L., Vaquero, J.M., Cliver, E.W.: 2014, Revisiting the sunspot number. A 400-year perspective on the solar cycle. Space Sci. Rev. 186, 35. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Clette, F., Svalgaard, L., Vaquero, J.M., Cliver, E.W.: 2015, Revisiting the sunspot number. In: Balogh, A., Hudson, H., Petrovay, K., von Steiger, R. (eds.) The Solar Activity Cycle, Space Sci. Ser. ISSI 53, Springer, New York 35. DOI . ADS .

    Google Scholar 

  • Clette, F., Cliver, E.W., Lefèvre, L., Svalgaard, L., Vaquero, J.M., Leibacher, J.W.: 2016, Preface to topical issue: Recalibration of the sunspot number. Solar Phys. 291, 2479. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cliver, E.W., Clette, F., Svalgaard, L.: 2013, Recalibrating the sunspot number (SSN): The SSN workshops. Cent. Eur. Astrophys. Bull. 37, 401. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cliver, E.W., Clette, F., Svalgaard, L., Vaquero, J.M.: 2015, Recalibrating the sunspot number (SN): The 3rd and 4th SN workshops. Cent. Eur. Astrophys. Bull. 39, 1. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Eddy, J.A., Gilman, P.A., Trotter, D.E.: 1976, Solar rotation during the Maunder minimum. Solar Phys. 46, 3. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, P.A., Howard, R.: 1984, Variations in solar rotation with the sunspot cycle. Astrophys. J. 283, 385. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, S.S., Sivaraman, K.R., Howard, R.F.: 1999, Measurement of Kodaikanal white-light images, III: Rotation rates and activity cycle variations. Solar Phys. 188, 225. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Győri, L., Ludmány, A., Baranyi, T.: 2017, Comparative analysis of Debrecen sunspot catalogues. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 465, 1259. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hathaway, D.H.: 2010, The solar cycle. Liv. Rev. Solar Phys. 7, 1. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R.: 1976, A possible variation of the solar rotation with the activity cycle. Astrophys. J. Lett. 210, L159. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R., Gilman, P.I., Gilman, P.A.: 1984, Rotation of the sun measured from Mount Wilson white-light images. Astrophys. J. 283, 373. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Howe, R., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., Hill, F., Komm, R.W., Larsen, R.M., Schou, J., Thompson, M.J., Toomre, J.: 2000, Dynamic variations at the base of the solar convection zone. Science 287, 2456. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Javaraiah, J., Bertello, L.: 2016, Short-term variations in the equatorial rotation rate of sunspot groups. Solar Phys. 291, 3485. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurdana-Šepić, R., Brajša, R., Wöhl, H., Hanslmeier, A., Poljančić, I., Svalgaard, L., Gissot, S.F.: 2011, A relationship between the solar rotation and activity in the period 1998 – 2006 analysed by tracing small bright coronal structures in SOHO-EIT images. Astron. Astrophys. 534, A17. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Komm, R., Howe, R., Hill, F.: 2017, Solar-cycle variation of subsurface-flow divergence: A proxy of magnetic activity? Solar Phys. 292, 122. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lanza, A.F.: 2006, On the time dependence of differential rotation in young late-type stars. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 373, 819. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lanza, A.F.: 2007, Angular momentum conservation and torsional oscillations in the Sun and solar-like stars. Astron. Astrophys. 471, 1011. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, K.J., Shi, X.J., Feng, W., Xie, J.L., Gao, P.X., Zhan, L.S., Liang, H.F.: 2012, Long-term variations of the coronal rotation and solar activity. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 423, 3584. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, K.J., Feng, W., Shi, X.J., Xie, J.L., Gao, P.X., Liang, H.F.: 2014, Long-term variations of solar differential rotation and sunspot activity: Revisited. Solar Phys. 289, 759. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lustig, G.: 1983, Solar rotation 1947 – 1981 – determined from sunspot data. Astron. Astrophys. 125, 355. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Meunier, N., Nesme-Ribes, E., Collin, B.: 1997, Cycle 19 facula dynamics, II: Meridional circulation, RMS velocity, and Reynolds stresses. Astron. Astrophys. 319, 683. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nash, A.G., Sheeley, N.R. Jr., Wang, Y.-M.: 1988, Mechanisms for the rigid rotation of coronal holes. Solar Phys. 117, 359. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, H.W., Nunn, M.L.: 1951, The Sun’s rotation derived from sunspots 1934 – 1944 and additional results. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 111, 413. ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Obridko, V.N., Shelting, B.D.: 2001, Rotation characteristics of large-scale solar magnetic fields. Solar Phys. 201, 1. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Poljančić Beljan, I., Jurdana-Šepić, R., Čargonja, M., Brajša, R., Hržina, D., Pötzi, W., Hanslmeier, A.: 2014, An analysis of the solar differential rotation from the Kanzelhöhe sunspot drawings. Cent. Eur. Astrophys. Bull. 38, 87. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Poljančić-Beljan, I., Jurdana-Šepić, R., Brajša, R., Sudar, D., Ruždjak, D., Hržina, D., Pötzi, W., Hanslmeier, A., Veronig, A., Skokić, I., Wöhl, H.: 2017, Solar diferential rotation in the period 1964 – 2016 determined by the Kanzelhöhe data set. Astron. Astrophys. 606, A72. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pulkkinen, P., Tuominen, I.: 1998, Velocity structures from sunspot statistics in cycles 10 to 22, II: Latitudinal velocity and correlation functions. Astron. Astrophys. 332, 755. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ribes, J.C., Nesme-Ribes, E.: 1993, The solar sunspot cycle in the Maunder minimum AD1645 to AD1715. Astron. Astrophys. 276, 549. ADS .

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Roša, D., Brajša, R., Vršnak, B., Wöhl, H.: 1995, The relation between the synodic and sidereal rotation period of the Sun. Solar Phys. 159, 393. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruždjak, D., Ruždjak, V., Brajša, R., Wöhl, H.: 2004, Deceleration of the rotational velocities of sunspot groups during their evolution. Solar Phys. 221, 225. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruždjak, D., Brajša, R., Sudar, D., Wöhl, H.: 2005, The influence of the evolution of sunspot groups on the determination of the solar velocity field. Solar Phys. 229, 35. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Rybak, J.: 1994, Rotational characteristics of the green solar corona: 1964 – 1989. Solar Phys. 152, 161. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Skokić, I., Brajša, R., Roša, D., Hržina, D., Wöhl, H.: 2014, Validity of the relations between the synodic and sidereal rotation velocities of the Sun. Solar Phys. 289, 1471. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sudar, D., Skokić, I., Ruždjak, D., Brajša, R., Wöhl, H.: 2014, Tracing sunspot groups to determine angular momentum transfer on the Sun. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc. 439, 2377. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sudar, D., Skokić, I., Brajša, R., Saar, S.H.: 2015, Steps towards a high precision solar rotation profile: Results from SDO/AIA coronal bright point data. Astron. Astrophys. 575, A63. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sudar, D., Saar, S.H., Skokić, I., Poljančić Beljan, I., Brajša, R.: 2016, Meridional motions and Reynolds stress from SDO/AIA coronal bright points data. Astron. Astrophys. 587, A29. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sudar, D., Brajša, R., Skokić, I., Poljančić Beljan, I., Wöhl, H.: 2017, Meridional motion and Reynolds stress from Debrecen photoheliographic data. Solar Phys. 292, 86. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Usoskin, I.G.: 2017, A history of solar activity over millennia. Liv. Rev. Solar Phys. 14, 3. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wöhl, H., Brajša, R., Hanslmeier, A., Gissot, S.F.: 2010, A precise measurement of the solar differential rotation by tracing small bright coronal structures in SOHO-EIT images. Results and comparisons for the period 1998 – 2006. Astron. Astrophys. 520, A29. DOI . ADS .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuccarello, F., Zappalá, R.A.: 2003, Angular velocity during the cycle deduced using the sunspot group age selection methodology. Astron. Nachr. 324, 464. DOI . ADS .

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Hubertus Wöhl for useful sugestions and a careful reading of the manuscript. We acknowledge the staff of the Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, and the staff of the Heliophysical Observatory, Debrecen, Hungary for maintaining and organizing the WDC-SILSO and DPD databases, respectively. This work was partly supported by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project 6212 “Solar and Stellar Variability”, and in part by the University of Rijeka under project number 13.12.1.3.03.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Domagoj Ruždjak, Roman Brajša, Davor Sudar & Ivica Skokić

  2. Department of Physics, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia

    Ivana Poljančić Beljan

Authors
  1. Domagoj Ruždjak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roman Brajša
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Davor Sudar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ivica Skokić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ivana Poljančić Beljan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Domagoj Ruždjak.

Ethics declarations

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ruždjak, D., Brajša, R., Sudar, D. et al. A Relationship Between the Solar Rotation and Activity Analysed by Tracing Sunspot Groups. Sol Phys 292, 179 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-017-1199-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-017-1199-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation