Solar Cycle Predictions
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→ Investigating Solar Cycles a Soho Archive & Ulysses Final Archive Tutorial
→ INVESTIGATING SOLAR CYCLES A SOHO ARCHIVE & ULYSSES FINAL ARCHIVE TUTORIAL SCIENCE ARCHIVES AND VO TEAM Tutorial Written By: Madeleine Finlay, as part of an ESAC Trainee Project 2013 (ESA Student Placement) Tutorial Design and Layout: Pedro Osuna & Madeleine Finlay Tutorial Science Support: Deborah Baines Acknowledgements would like to be given to the whole SAT Team for the implementation of the Ulysses and Soho archives http://archives.esac.esa.int We would also like to thank; Benjamín Montesinos, Department of Astrophysics, Centre for Astrobiology (CAB, CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain for having reviewed and ratified the scientific concepts in this tutorial. CONTACT [email protected] [email protected] ESAC Science Archives and Virtual Observatory Team European Space Agency European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) Tutorial → CONTENTS PART 1 ....................................................................................................3 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................4-5 THE EXPERIMENT .......................................................................................6 PART 1 | SECTION 1 .................................................................................7-8 PART 1 | SECTION 2 ...............................................................................9-11 PART 2 ..................................................................................................12 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................13-14 -
A Spectral Solar/Climatic Model H
A Spectral Solar/Climatic Model H. PRESCOTT SLEEPER, JR. Northrop Services, Inc. The problem of solar/climatic relationships has prove our understanding of solar activity varia- been the subject of speculation and research by a tions have been based upon planetary tidal forces few scientists for many years. Understanding the on the Sun (Bigg, 1967; Wood and Wood, 1965.) behavior of natural fluctuations in the climate is or the effect of planetary dynamics on the motion especially important currently, because of the pos- of the Sun (Jose, 1965; Sleeper, 1972). Figure 1 sibility of man-induced climate changes ("Study presents the sunspot number time series from of Critical Environmental Problems," 1970; "Study 1700 to 1970. The mean 11.1-yr sunspot cycle is of Man's Impact on Climate," 1971). This paper well known, and the 22-yr Hale magnetic cycle is consists of a summary of pertinent research on specified by the positive and negative designation. solar activity variations and climate variations, The magnetic polarity of the sunspots has been together with the presentation of an empirical observed since 1908. The cycle polarities assigned solar/climatic model that attempts to clarify the prior to that date are inferred from the planetary nature of the relationships. dynamic effects studied by Jose (1965). The sun- The study of solar/climatic relationships has spot time series has certain important characteris- been difficult to develop because of an inadequate tics that will be summarized. understanding of the detailed mechanisms respon- sible for the interaction. The possible variation of Secular Cycles stratospheric ozone with solar activity has been The sunspot cycle magnitude appears to in- discussed by Willett (1965) and Angell and Kor- crease slowly and fall rapidly with an. -
Statistical Properties of Superactive Regions During Solar Cycles 19–23⋆
A&A 534, A47 (2011) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201116790 & c ESO 2011 Astrophysics Statistical properties of superactive regions during solar cycles 19–23 A. Q. Chen1,2,J.X.Wang1,J.W.Li2,J.Feynman3, and J. Zhang1 1 Key Laboratory of Solar Activity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2 National Center for Space Weather, China Meteorological Administration, PR China 3 Helio research, 5212 Maryland Avenue, La Crescenta, USA Received 26 February 2011 / Accepted 20 August 2011 ABSTRACT Context. Each solar activity cycle is characterized by a small number of superactive regions (SARs) that produce the most violent of space weather events with the greatest disastrous influence on our living environment. Aims. We aim to re-parameterize the SARs and study the latitudinal and longitudinal distributions of SARs. Methods. We select 45 SARs in solar cycles 21–23, according to the following four parameters: 1) the maximum area of sunspot group, 2) the soft X-ray flare index, 3) the 10.7 cm radio peak flux, and 4) the variation in the total solar irradiance. Another 120 SARs given by previous studies of solar cycles 19–23 are also included. The latitudinal and longitudinal distributions of the 165 SARs in both the Carrington frame and the dynamic reference frame during solar cycles 19–23 are studied statistically. Results. Our results indicate that these 45 SARs produced 44% of all the X class X-ray flares during solar cycles 21–23, and that all the SARs are likely to produce a very fast CME. -
Predicting Maximum Sunspot Number in Solar Cycle 24 Nipa J Bhatt
J. Astrophys. Astr. (2009) 30, 71–77 Predicting Maximum Sunspot Number in Solar Cycle 24 Nipa J Bhatt1,∗, Rajmal Jain2 & Malini Aggarwal2 1C. U. Shah Science College, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 380 014, India. 2Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, India. ∗e-mail: [email protected] Received 2008 November 22; accepted 2008 December 23 Abstract. A few prediction methods have been developed based on the precursor technique which is found to be successful for forecasting the solar activity. Considering the geomagnetic activity aa indices during the descending phase of the preceding solar cycle as the precursor, we predict the maximum amplitude of annual mean sunspot number in cycle 24 to be 111 ± 21. This suggests that the maximum amplitude of the upcoming cycle 24 will be less than cycles 21–22. Further, we have estimated the annual mean geomagnetic activity aa index for the solar maximum year in cycle 24 to be 20.6 ± 4.7 and the average of the annual mean sunspot num- ber during the descending phase of cycle 24 is estimated to be 48 ± 16.8. Key words. Sunspot number—precursor prediction technique—geo- magnetic activity index aa. 1. Introduction Predictions of solar and geomagnetic activities are important for various purposes, including the operation of low-earth orbiting satellites, operation of power grids on Earth, and satellite communication systems. Various techniques, namely, even/odd behaviour, precursor, spectral, climatology, recent climatology, neural networks have been used in the past for the prediction of solar activity. Many investigators (Ohl 1966; Kane 1978, 2007; Thompson 1993; Jain 1997; Hathaway & Wilson 2006) have used the ‘precursor’ technique to forecast the solar activity. -
Solar Wind Variation with the Cycle I. S. Veselovsky,* A. V. Dmitriev
J. Astrophys. Astr. (2000) 21, 423–429 Solar Wind Variation with the Cycle I. S. Veselovsky,* A. V. Dmitriev, A. V. Suvorova & M. V. Tarsina, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, 119899 Moscow, Russia. *e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. The cyclic evolution of the heliospheric plasma parameters is related to the time-dependent boundary conditions in the solar corona. “Minimal” coronal configurations correspond to the regular appearance of the tenuous, but hot and fast plasma streams from the large polar coronal holes. The denser, but cooler and slower solar wind is adjacent to coronal streamers. Irregular dynamic manifestations are present in the corona and the solar wind everywhere and always. They follow the solar activity cycle rather well. Because of this, the direct and indirect solar wind measurements demonstrate clear variations in space and time according to the minimal, intermediate and maximal conditions of the cycles. The average solar wind density, velocity and temperature measured at the Earth's orbit show specific decadal variations and trends, which are of the order of the first tens per cent during the last three solar cycles. Statistical, spectral and correlation characteristics of the solar wind are reviewed with the emphasis on the cycles. Key words. Solar wind—solar activity cycle. 1. Introduction The knowledge of the solar cycle variations in the heliospheric plasma and magnetic fields was initially based on the indirect indications gained from the observations of the Sun, comets, cosmic rays, geomagnetic perturbations, interplanetary scintillations and some other ground-based methods. Numerous direct and remote-sensing space- craft measurements in situ have continuously broadened this knowledge during the past 40 years, which can be seen from the original and review papers. -
Space Weather — History and Current Status
Space Weather — History and Current Status Ji Wu National Space Science Center, CAS Oct. 3, 2017 1 Contents 1. Beginning of Space Age and Dangerous Environment 2. The Dynamic Space Environment so far We Know 3. The Space Weather Concept and Current Programs 4. Looking at the Future Space Weather Programs 2 1.Beginning of Space Age and Dangerous Environment 3 Space Age Kai'erdishi Korolev Oct. 4, 1957, humanity‘s first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, has launched, ushering in the Space Age. 4 Space Age Explorer 1 was the first satellite of the United States, launched on Jan 31, 1958, with scientific object to explore the radiation environment of geospace. 5 Unknown Space Environment Sputnik-2 (Nov 3, 1957) detected the Earth's outer radiation belt in the far northern latitudes, but researchers did not immediately realize the significance of the elevated radiation because Sputnik 2 passed through the Van Allen belt too far out of range of the Soviet tracking stations. Explorer-1 detected fewer cosmic rays in its orbit (which ranged from 220 miles from Earth to 1,563 miles) than Van Allen expected. 6 Space Age - unknown and dangerous space environment 7 Satellite failures due to the unknown and Particle dangerous space environment Radiation! Statistics show that the space radiation environment is one of the main causes of satellite failure. The space radiation environment caused about 2,300 satellite failures of all the 5000 failure events during the 1966-1994 period collected by the National Geophysical Data Center. Statistics of the United States in 1996 indicate that the space environment caused more than 40% of satellite failures in 1958-1986, and 36% in 1986-1996. -
Our Sun Has Spots.Pdf
THE A T M O S P H E R I C R E S E R V O I R Examining the Atmosphere and Atmospheric Resource Management Our Sun Has Spots By Mark D. Schneider Aurora Borealis light shows. If you minima and decreased activity haven’t seen the northern lights for called The Maunder Minimum. Is there actually weather above a while, you’re not alone. The end This period coincides with the our earth’s troposphere that con- of Solar Cycle 23 and a minimum “Little Ice Age” and may be an cerns us? Yes. In fact, the US of sunspot activity likely took place indication that it’s possible to fore- Department of Commerce late last year. Now that a new 11- cast long-term temperature trends National Oceanic and over several decades or Atmospheric Administra- centuries by looking at the tion (NOAA) has a separate sun’s irradiance patterns. division called the Space Weather Prediction Center You may have heard (SWPC) that monitors the about 22-year climate weather in space. Space cycles (two 11-year sun- weather focuses on our sun spot cycles) in which wet and its’ cycles of solar activ- periods and droughts were ity. Back in April of 2007, experienced in the Mid- the SWPC made a predic- western U.S. The years tion that the next active 1918, 1936, and 1955 were sunspot or solar cycle would periods of maximum solar begin in March of this year. forcing, but minimum Their prediction was on the precipitation over parts of mark, Solar Cycle 24 began NASA TRACE PROJECT, OF COURTESY PHOTO the U.S. -
Prediction of Solar Activity on the Basis of Spectral Characteristics of Sunspot Number
Annales Geophysicae (2004) 22: 2239–2243 SRef-ID: 1432-0576/ag/2004-22-2239 Annales © European Geosciences Union 2004 Geophysicae Prediction of solar activity on the basis of spectral characteristics of sunspot number E. Echer1, N. R. Rigozo1,2, D. J. R. Nordemann1, and L. E. A. Vieira1 1Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Av. Astronautas, 1758 ZIP 12201-970, Sao˜ Jose´ dos Campos, SP, Brazil 2Faculdade de Tecnologia Thereza Porto Marques (FAETEC) ZIP 12308-320, Jacare´ı, Brazil Received: 9 July 2003 – Revised: 6 February 2004 – Accepted: 18 February 2004 – Published: 14 June 2004 Abstract. Prediction of solar activity strength for solar cy- when daily averages are more frequently available (Hoyt and cles 23 and 24 is performed on the basis of extrapolation of Schatten, 1998a, b). sunspot number spectral components. Sunspot number data When the solar cycle is in its maximum phase, there are during 1933–1996 periods (solar cycles 17–22) are searched important terrestrial consequences, such as the higher solar for periodicities by iterative regression. The periods signifi- emission of extreme-ultraviolet and ultraviolet flux, which cant at the 95% confidence level were used in a sum of sine can modulate the middle and upper terrestrial atmosphere, series to reconstruct sunspot series, to predict the strength and total solar irradiance, which could have effects on terres- of solar cycles 23 and 24. The maximum peak of solar cy- trial climate (Hoyt and Schatten, 1997), as well as the coronal cles is adequately predicted (cycle 21: 158±13.2 against an mass ejection and interplanetary shock rates, responsible by observed peak of 155.4; cycle 22: 178±13.2 against 157.6 geomagnetic activity storms and auroras (Webb and Howard, observed). -
Space Weather and Aviation Impacts
Space Weather and Aviation Impacts Char Dewey NOAA/National Weather Service Salt Lake City, UT @DeweyWx [email protected] IWAWS 2020 Space Weather and Aviation Impacts What is space weather? How space weather affects Earth and aviation; hazards and impacts How to monitor conditions and be space weather-aware Space Weather 101 Space Weather 101 Weather originating from the Sun and traveling the 93 million miles to reach Earth and our atmosphere, interacting with systems on and orbiting Earth. Observations come from satellite sources with instruments that monitor space weather. Model data (some now operational!) developing. Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), Solar Energetic Particles (SEP), and Solar Flares. Space Weather 101 Active regions on the sun are where solar activity begins; where sunspots are located on the solar disk. Magnetic “instability” where solar storming forms. Space Weather 101 Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) An eruption of plasma particles and electromagnetic radiation from the solar corona, often following solar flares. Originate from active regions on the Sun’s surface (sunspots). Very slow to reach the Earth from 12 hours to days or a week. Space Weather Impacts Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) Impacts: Geomagnetic storming compresses Earth’s magnetosphere on the day-side, extending night-side “tail” and reconnecting, focusing energy at the poles and resulting in Aurora. Increase electrons in the ionosphere at high-latitude regions, exposing to higher radiation values. Space Weather 101 Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) High-energy particles; protons, electrons Originate from solar flare or shock wave (CME) reaching the Earth from 20 minutes to many hours, depending the location it leaves the solar disk. -