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Latitudinal and solar-cycle dependence of the interplanetary magnetic field predominant polarity

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Abstract

A study of the predominant interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) polarity is made, for the time period 1957–1977. The examination of the mean positive and negative sector width for time periods (semesters) for which the Earth was in northern and southern heliolatitudes shows that the predominant polarity for every semester follows, up to a certain extent, the Rosenberg-Coleman effect. However, the statistical support is not satisfactory. The same conclusion was pointed out by a similar study of data grouped over various phases of the solar cycle.

Additionally the relative frequency of positive (negative) IMF polarity days, appeared over a mean solar rotation, shows that the general pattern of the mean IMF has a tendency to reoccur in the homologous (corresponding) phases of different solar cycles.

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Moussas, X., Tritakis, B. Latitudinal and solar-cycle dependence of the interplanetary magnetic field predominant polarity. Sol Phys 75, 361–375 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00153484

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00153484

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