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Periodicities of solar irradiance and solar activity indices, I

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Abstract

Using a standard FFT time series analysis, our results show an 8–11 months periodicity in the solar total and UV irradiances, 10.7 cm radio flux, Ca-K plage index, and sunspot blocking function. The physical origin of this period is not known, but the evidence in the results exclude the possibility that the observed period is a harmonic due to the FFT transform or detrending. Periods at 150–157 and 51 days are found in those solar data which are related to strong magnetic fields. The 51-day period is the dominant period in the projected areas of developing complex sunspot groups, but it is missing from the old decaying sunspot areas. This evidence suggests that the 51-day period is related to the emergence of new magnetic fields. A strong 13.5-day period is found in the total irradiance and projected areas of developing complex groups. This confirms those results (e.g., Donnelly et al., 1983, 1984; Bai, 1987, 1989) which show that ‘active centers’ are located 180 deg apart from each other.

Our study also shows that the modulation of various solar data due to the 27-day solar rotation is more pronounced during the declining portion of solar cycle than during the rising portion. This arises from that the active regions and their magnetic fields are better organized and more long-lived during the maximum and declining portion of solar cycle than during its rising portion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIRES, University of Colorado/NOAA, Campus Box 216, 80309, Boulder, CO, U.S.A.

    Judit Pap

  2. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.

    W. Kent Tobiska

  3. CIRES, University of Colorado/NOAA, Campus Box 216, 80309, Boulder, CO, U.S.A.

    S. David Bouwer

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  1. Judit Pap
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  2. W. Kent Tobiska
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  3. S. David Bouwer
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Pap, J., Tobiska, W.K. & Bouwer, S.D. Periodicities of solar irradiance and solar activity indices, I. Sol Phys 129, 165–189 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154372

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