Abstract
Statistical tests, based on the maximum-likelihood method, have been performed on flare series extending over several years. If all flares in each plage region are taken into account, a rich spectrum is obtained. If one carries out similar analysis of a ‘reduced’ flare series, which includes at most one flare from each plage region, the spectrum is almost devoid of structure, and what structure does remain is not statistically significant. The inference is that solar activity does not display genuine rigid-rotation modulation, but that repeated events from individual centers of activity yield modulation which may be mistaken for rigid-rotation modulation.
A test for correlation between reduced flare series for the northern and southern hemispheres gives no significant correlation. This test therefore yieds no support to the hypothesis that solar activity is modulated by planetary effects.
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Department of Statistics.
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Fung, P.C.W., Sturrock, P.A., Switzer, P. et al. Longitude distribution of solar flares. Sol Phys 18, 90–99 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146037
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146037