From sunspot drawings provided by the Kanzelhohe Solar Observatory, Austria, and the Skalnate Pleso Observatory, Slovak Republic, we extracted a data catalogue of hemispheric Sunspot Numbers covering the time span 1945-2004. The validated catalogue includes daily, monthly-mean, and smoothed-monthly relative sunspot numbers for the northern and southern hemispheres separately and is available for scientific use. These data we then investigated with respect to north-south asymmetries for almost 6 entire solar cycles (Nos. 18-23). For all the cycles studied, we found that the asymmetry based on the absolute asymmetry index is enhanced near the cycle maximum, which contradicts to previous results that are based on the normalized asymmetry index. Moreover, the weak magnetic interdependence between the two solar hemispheres is confirmed by their self-contained evolution during a cycle. For the time span 1945-2004, we found that the cycle maxima and also the declining and increasing phases are clearly shifted, whereas the minima seem to be in phase for both hemispheres. The asymmetric behavior reveals no obvious connection to either the sunspot cycle period of ~11- or the magnetic cycle of ~22-years. The most striking excess of activity is observed for the northern hemisphere in cycles 19 and 20.

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Hemispheric sunspot numbers R~n and R~s from 1945-2004: catalogue and N-S asymmetry analysis for solar cycles 18-23

Solar quasi-biennial oscillations (QBOs) with the time scale of 0.6–4 yrs appear to be a basic feature of the Sun’s activity. Observational aspects of QBOs are reviewed on the basis of recent publications. Solar QBOs are shown to be ubiquitous and very variable. We demonstrate that many features of QBOs are common to different observations. These features include variable periodicity and intermittence with signs of stochastisity, a presence at all levels of the solar atmosphere and even in the convective zone, independent development in the northern and southern solar hemispheres, most pronounced amplitudes during the maximum phase of the 11-yr cycle and the transition of QBOs into interplanetary space. Temporal weakening of solar activity around the maximum of the 11-yr cycle (Gnevyshev Gap) can be considered an integral part of QBOs. The exact mechanism by which the solar QBO is produced is poorly understood. We describe some of the most plausible theoretical mechanisms and discuss observational features that support/contradict the theory. QBOs have an important meaning as a benchmark of solar activity, not only for investigation of the solar dynamo but also in terms of space weather.

A Combined Analysis of the Observational Aspects of the Quasi-biennial Oscillation in Solar Magnetic Activity

Evolution of space drones for planetary exploration: A review

In the present work, the dominant hemisphere of solar activity in each of solar cycles 12 to 22 has been clarified by calculating the actual probability of the hemispheric distribution of several solar activity phenomena using long-term observational records. An attempt is made to demonstrate that a long characteristic time scale, about 12-cycle length, is inferred to occur in solar activity.

/pdf/regularity-of-the-north-south-asymmetry-of-solar-activity-4y029qr3gj.pdf

Regularity of the north-south asymmetry of solar activity

The helium abundance in the Jovian atmosphere is derived from Voyager 1 data by two methods. The first method uses only infrared spectra from selected locations on the planet while the second method uses a thermal profile independently derived from radio occultation measurements and infrared spectra recorded near the occultation point. A hydrogen mole fraction of 0.897±0.030 is obtained from the first method, while the second method gives 0.880±0.036, corresponding to helium mass fractions of 0.19±0.05 and 0.21±0.06, respectively. The estimated errors for the first method are primarily due to systematic uncertainties in the H2 and He absorption coefficients, while those for the second method result mainly from errors in the radio occultation profile and are less well known. Random errors in the measured infrared spectra are found to be negligible in both cases. The results are consistent with a uniform mix of hydrogen and helium within Jupiter's interior, but a modest amount of helium depletion (ΔY ≤0.05) cannot be excluded.

The helium abundance of Jupiter from Voyager

The best correlation coefficient between the monthly cosmic-ray intensity of the Inuvik Station and various kinds of solar, interplanetary, and geophysical parameters has been found. It is calculated for different time-lags of cosmic-ray intensity with respect to these parameters. The maximum of these coefficients lead us to a useful empirical model for the 11-year cosmic-ray modulation.

Time-lag of cosmic-ray intensity

Short-term variations of cosmic-ray intensity and flare related data in 1981–1983

http://cosray.phys.uoa.gr/publications/D49.pdf

Coronal index as a solar activity index applied to space weather

The analysis of the daily measurements of the coronal green line intensity, which have been extensively tested for homogeneity and freedom of trends observed at the Pic-du-Midi observatory during the period 1944–1974, has revealed some characteristic asymmetric variations. A north-south asymmetry of the green line intensity is the main feature of the period 1949–1971 while a south-north one is obvious within 1972–1974 and the minor statistical significance span 1944–1948. On the other hand a significant W-E asymmetry has been confirmed in the whole period 1944–1974. It is noteworthy that the period 1949–1971, where the N-S asymmetry takes place consists a 22-yr solar cycle which starts from the epoch of the solar magnetic field inversion of the solar cycle No. 18 and terminates in the relevant epoch of the cycle No. 20. The combination of N-S and S-N asymmetry with a W-E one makes the NW solar-quarter to appear as the most active of all in the 22-yr cycle 1949–1971, while in the periods 1944–1948 and 1972–1974 the SW quarter is the most active. Finally, from the polar distribution of the green line intensity has been derived that the maximum values of the asymmetries occur in heliocentric sectors ± 10°–20° far from the solar equator on both sides of the central meridian. Physical mechanisms which could contribute to the creation of both N-S and E-W asymmetries of the solar activity and the green line intensity as an accompanied event, like different starting time of an 11-yr solar cycle in the two solar hemispheres, the motion of the Sun towards the Apex, and short-lived ‘active’ solar longitudes formed by temporal clustering of solar active centers, have been discussed.

Asymmetric variations of the coronal green line intensity

The following parameters have been computed for the Cytherean atmosphere: pressure, density, speed of sound, collisional frequency, column mass, density scale, mean-free-path, viscosity, pressure scale, mean particle velocity, number density at an altitude from 0 to 170 km.

B. Petropoulos

Papers

Time-lag of cosmic-ray intensity

Short-term variations of cosmic-ray intensity and flare related data in 1981–1983

Coronal index as a solar activity index applied to space weather

Asymmetric variations of the coronal green line intensity

Physical parameters of the atmosphere of Venus