Latitude Dependence of the “Gnevyshev” Peaks and Gaps

Abstract

The occurrence of double peaks near the maximum of sunspot activity was first emphasized by Gnevyshev (Solar Phys. 1, 107, 1967) for the peak years of solar cycle 19 (1954 – 1964). In the present analysis, it is shown that double peaks in sunspot numbers were clearly visible in solar latitudes 10 – 30° N but almost absent in the southern latitudes, where some single peaks were observed out of phase by several months from any of the peaks in the northern latitudes. The spacing between the double peaks increased from higher to lower northern latitudes, hinting at latitudinal migration. In the next cycle 20 (1965 – 1976), which was of about half the strength of cycle 19, no clear-cut double peaks were seen, and the prominent peak in the early part of 1967 in the northern latitudes was seen a few months later in the southern latitudes. A direct relationship of Gnevyshev peaks with changes in the solar polar magnetic fields seems to be dubious. The commencements do not match.