Significance Of Sunspots in the photosphere

 

A sunspot is a concentration of magnetic flux in the photosphere of the sun that normally occurs in bipolar clusters or groups.  In contrast to its surroundings, a sunspot is observed as a dark spot because it is approximately 1500 K cooler than its surrounding area.  The number of sunspots on our sun varies in “eleven year” cycles and in “three-hundred-year” cycles.

 

Although it may vary from seven to seventeen years, the “eleven-year” cycle begins with the maximum number of sunspots being visible, sometimes reaching one-hundred or more at a time.  Over the next several years, the number of sunspots dwindle close to or even zero, and then gradually begin to increase in quantity until the end of the cycle when the star is once again displaying up to one-hundred or more.  The “three-hundred” year cycle illustrates the patterns of the “eleven year” cycle, obviously on a grander scale.  It begins with longer cycles of low maximum sunspots and gradually increases to shorter cycles with a higher maximum sunspot count.  This pattern then reverses itself approximately half way through the “three-hundred” year cycle, and we again observe a pattern of lengthening cycles with fewer maximum sunspot counts.  The low point(s) of this cycle are referred to as the Maunder Minimum, or a “mini ice age.”

 

There is a definite correlation between the number of sunspots and the earth’s temperature.  The accepted theory on this correlation states that when more sunspots are present, the earth’s atmospheric temperature increases, and when there is an absence of sunspots, the earth’s atmospheric temperature decreases.  These changes in temperature during the “eleven year” cycles are minute and without proper recording and analysis, would most likely go unnoticed by the common man.  However during the highs and lows of the “three hundred” year cycle, the changes in average temperature, although still relatively small, are more significant.  The average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere may differ by several degrees or more between the high point and the low point.  This observation may help to explain the global warming phenomenon.

 

It has also been hypothesized that there is a correlation between the sunspot cycles and human behavior and health.  Professor A.L. Tchijevsky, a Russian scientist, created an “Index of Mass Human Excitability” covering each year from 500 B.C. to 1922 A.D.  He found that 80% of the most important events of this time period, to include wars, revolutions, riots, expeditions and innovations, occurred during periods of maximum sunspot activity.  He stated that this “exciting” period may be explained by a small change in the nervous and psychic nature of humans, which takes place at sunspot maxima.

 

Although it is unbeknownst to most of humanity, we have seen by the facts that I have provided above, sunspots play a very significant part in our lives.  Everything from wars to global warming; innovations to the ice age were all in some part affected by sunspots and the patterns in which they follow.  It is quite apparent by now that the study of the sun is quite important to humanity, and further analysis of it is critical for the evolution of mankind.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography:

 

 

Busby, Michael (n.d.). Explorers of the Universe: Starspots. Retrieved January 29, 2005, from

http://explorers.tsuniv.edu/starspot.asp

Definitions of sunspot on the Web (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2005, from

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-23,RNWE:en&q=define%3A+sunspot

Hutton, William (2000, July 11). Sunspots and Solar Flares From Various Viewpoints.

Retrieved January 29, 2005, from http://www.tmgnow.com/repository/cosmology/

transformation_solar.html

Solar Effects on the Climate (n.d.).  Retrieved January 29, 2005, from

http://www.env.leeds.ac.uk/envi2150/oldnotes/lecture9/lecture9.html

Borges, James (n.d.). Sunspots and Human Behavior.  January 29, 2005, from

http://www.borderlands.com/sun/sunspots.htm

 

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