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On the Claimed 5.5-year Periodicity in Solar Activity

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Abstract

Recently, Djurovic and Pâquet (1996) claimed to have found an oscillation with a period of about 5.5 years in several solar and solar-terrestrial parameters, in particular in solar activity as indicated by sunspot numbers. Since the temporal evolution of the solar activity and solar-terrestrial environment is of great interest in many fields, we have examined their claim in detail. We show here that their conclusion is based on an artefact due a questionable method applied, and due to the asymmetric form of the solar cycle. Accordingly, there is no reasonable evidence for the existence of a fundamental 5.5-year periodicity in solar activity.

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Mursula, K., Usoskin, I. & Zieger, B. On the Claimed 5.5-year Periodicity in Solar Activity. Solar Physics 176, 201–210 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004982203293

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