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Variations of the Sun's radius and temperature due to magnetic buoyancy

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Abstract

LIVINGSTON1 has recently measured a decrease in the surface temperature of the Sun coincident with increased solar activity. He interpreted the temperature drop as implying a corresponding reduction in luminosity. I point out here that surface cooling could also be due to a radial expansion of the Sun, with no attendant reduction in luminosity. There is a plausible physical mechanism for such an expansion; namely, variations in magnetic buoyancy due to variations in the magnetic flux in the convection zone over the solar cycle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences and CEK Mees Observatory, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 14627

    JOHN H. THOMAS

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  1. JOHN H. THOMAS
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THOMAS, J. Variations of the Sun's radius and temperature due to magnetic buoyancy. Nature 280, 662–663 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280662a0

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