Axial tilt angles of sunspot groups

Abstract

Digitized Mount Wilson sunspot data from 1917 to 1985 are analyzed to examine tilt angles determined from the area-weighted positions of leading and following sunspots. These spot group tilt angles are examined in relation to other group characteristics to give information which may relate to the formation and evolution of sunspot groups and the magnetic connection of groups to subsurface magnetic flux tubes. The average tilt angle of all 24816 (multiple-spot) group observations in this study is found to be + 4.2 ± 0.2 deg, where the positive sign signifies that the leading spots lie equatorward of the following spots. Sunspot group areas are significantly larger on average for groups nearer the average tilt angle, which is similar to a result found earlier for active region plages. Average tilt angles are found to be larger at higher latitudes, confirming earlier results. There is a strong negative correlation between average daily latitudinal motion (plus to poles) and group tilt angle. That is, for groups within about 40 deg of the average tilt angle, smaller tilt angles are associated with more positive (poleward) daily drift. Groups nearest the average tilt angle rotate the fastest, on average, the amplitude differences being between about +0.1 and − 0.1 deg day⁻¹ for groups near and far from the average tilt angle, respectively. Groups with tilt angles near the average show a negative daily separation change between leading and following spots of close to 4 Mm day⁻¹ on average. Groups on either side of the average tilt angle show spot separations that are on average more positive. A similar effect is not seen for the daily variations of group areas. These results are discussed in relation to analogous recent results for active region magnetic fields. More evidence is found for a qualitative difference between the magnetic fields of sunspots and of plages, relating, perhaps, to a difference in subsurface connection of the field lines or to different physical mechanisms that may play a role for fields of different field strengths.