TY - JOUR A1 - Leussu, R. A1 - Usoskin, IIlya G. A1 - Valliappan, Senthamizh Pavai A1 - Diercke, Andrea A1 - Arlt, Rainer A1 - Denker, Carsten A1 - Mursula, K. T1 - Wings of the butterfly BT - sunspot groups for 1826-2015 JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - The spatio-temporal evolution of sunspot activity, the so-called Maunder butterfly diagram, has been continously available since 1874 using data from the Royal Greenwich Observatory, extended by SOON network data after 1976. Here we present a new extended butterfly diagram of sunspot group occurrence since 1826, using the recently digitized data from Schwabe (1826-1867) and Sporer (1866-1880). The wings of the diagram are separated using a recently developed method based on an analysis of long gaps in sunspot group occurrence in different latitude bands. We define characteristic latitudes, corresponding to the start, end, and the largest extent of the wings (the F, L, and H latitudes). The H latitudes (30 degrees-45 degrees) are highly significantly correlated with the strength of the wings (quantified by the total sum of the monthly numbers of sunspot groups). The F latitudes (20 degrees-30 degrees) depict a weak tendency, especially in the southern hemisphere, to follow the wing strength. The L latitudes (2 degrees-10 degrees) show no clear relation to the wing strength. Overall, stronger cycle wings tend to start at higher latitudes and have a greater wing extent. A strong (5-6)-cycle periodic oscillation is found in the start and end times of the wings and in the overlap and gaps between successive wings of one hemisphere. While the average wing overlap is zero in the southern hemisphere, it is two to three months in the north. A marginally significant oscillation of about ten solar cycles is found in the asymmetry of the L latitudes. The new long database of butterfly wings provides new observational constraints to solar dynamo models that discuss the spatio-temporal distribution of sunspot occurrence over the solar cycle and longer. KW - Sun: activity KW - sunspots KW - history and philosophy of astronomy Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629533 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 599 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Verma, Meetu A1 - Kummerow, P. A1 - Denker, Carsten T1 - On the extent of the moat flow in axisymmetric sunspots JF - Astronomische Nachrichten = Astronomical notes N2 - Unipolar, axisymmetric sunspots are figuratively called “theoretician's sunspots” because their simplicity supposedly makes them more suitable for theoretical descriptions or numerical models. On November 18, 2013, a very large specimen (active region NOAA 11899) crossed the central meridian of the sun. The moat flow associated with this very large spot is quantitatively compared to that of a medium and a small sunspot to determine the extent of the moat flow in different environments. We employ continuum images and magnetograms of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) as well as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images at λ160 nm of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), both on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), to measure horizontal proper motions with Local Correlation Tracking (LCT) and flux transport velocities with the Differential Affine Velocity Estimator (DAVE). We compute time-averaged flow maps (±6 hr around meridian passage) and radial averages of photometric, magnetic, and flow properties. Flow fields of a small- and a medium-sized axisymmetric sunspot provide the context for interpreting the results. All sunspots show outward moat flow and the advection of moving magnetic features (MMFs). However, the extent of the moat flow varies from spot to spot, and a correlation of flow properties with size is tenuous, if at all present. The moat flow is asymmetric and predominantly in the east–west direction, whereby deviations are related to the tilt angle of the sunspot group as well as to the topology and activity level of the trailing plage. KW - activity KW - data analysis KW - image processing KW - photosphere KW - sunspots Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201813482 SN - 0004-6337 SN - 1521-3994 VL - 339 IS - 4 SP - 268 EP - 276 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Verma, Meetu A1 - Denker, Carsten A1 - Balthasar, H. A1 - Kuckein, Christoph A1 - Rezaei, R. A1 - Sobotka, Michal A1 - Deng, N. A1 - Wang, Haimin A1 - Tritschler, A. A1 - Collados, M. A1 - Diercke, Andrea A1 - González Manrique, Sergio Javier T1 - High-resolution imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy of penumbral decay JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Aims. Combining high-resolution spectropolarimetric and imaging data is key to understanding the decay process of sunspots as it allows us to scrutinize the velocity and magnetic fields of sunspots and their surroundings. Methods. Active region NOAA 12597 was observed on 2016 September 24 with the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope using high-spatial-resolution imaging as well as imaging spectroscopy and near-infrared (NIR) spectropolarimetry. Horizontal proper motions were estimated with local correlation tracking, whereas line-of-sight (LOS) velocities were computed with spectral line fitting methods. The magnetic field properties were inferred with the "Stokes Inversions based on Response functions" (SIR) code for the Si I and Ca I NIR lines. Results. At the time of the GREGOR observations, the leading sunspot had two light bridges indicating the onset of its decay. One of the light bridges disappeared, and an elongated, dark umbral core at its edge appeared in a decaying penumbral sector facing the newly emerging flux. The flow and magnetic field properties of this penumbral sector exhibited weak Evershed flow, moat flow, and horizontal magnetic field. The penumbral gap adjacent to the elongated umbral core and the penumbra in that penumbral sector displayed LOS velocities similar to granulation. The separating polarities of a new flux system interacted with the leading and central part of the already established active region. As a consequence, the leading spot rotated 55 degrees clockwise over 12 h. Conclusions. In the high-resolution observations of a decaying sunspot, the penumbral filaments facing the flux emergence site contained a darkened area resembling an umbral core filled with umbral dots. This umbral core had velocity and magnetic field properties similar to the sunspot umbra. This implies that the horizontal magnetic fields in the decaying penumbra became vertical as observed in flare-induced rapid penumbral decay, but on a very different time-scale. KW - Sun: photosphere KW - sunspots KW - Sun: magnetic fields KW - Sun: infrared KW - techniques: imaging spectroscopy KW - techniques: spectroscopic Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201731801 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 614 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gömöry, Peter A1 - Balthasar, Horst A1 - Kuckein, Christoph A1 - Koza, Julis A1 - Veronig, Astrid M. A1 - González Manrique, Sergio Javier A1 - Kucera, Ales A1 - Schwartz, Pavol A1 - Hanslmeier, Arnold T1 - Flare-induced changes of the photospheric magnetic field in a delta-spot deduced from ground-based observations JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Aims. Changes of the magnetic field and the line-of-sight velocities in the photosphere are being reported for an M-class flare that originated at a delta-spot belonging to active region NOAA 11865. Methods. High-resolution ground-based near-infrared spectropolarimetric observations were acquired simultaneously in two photospheric spectral lines, Fe I 10783 angstrom and Si I 10786 angstrom, with the Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter at the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) in Tenerife on 2013 October 15. The observations covered several stages of the M-class flare. Inversions of the full-Stokes vector of both lines were carried out and the results were put into context using (extreme)-ultraviolet filtergrams from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Results. The active region showed high flaring activity during the whole observing period. After the M-class flare, the longitudinal magnetic field did not show significant changes along the polarity inversion line (PIL). However, an enhancement of the transverse magnetic field of approximately 550G was found that bridges the PIL and connects umbrae of opposite polarities in the delta-spot. At the same time, a newly formed system of loops appeared co-spatially in the corona as seen in 171 angstrom filtergrams of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board SDO. However, we cannot exclude that the magnetic connection between the umbrae already existed in the upper atmosphere before the M-class flare and became visible only later when it was filled with hot plasma. The photospheric Doppler velocities show a persistent upflow pattern along the PIL without significant changes due to the flare. Conclusions. The increase of the transverse component of the magnetic field after the flare together with the newly formed loop system in the corona support recent predictions of flare models and flare observations. KW - Sun: magnetic fields KW - sunspots KW - Sun: photosphere KW - Sun: flares KW - techniques: polarimetric Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201730644 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 602 SP - 14 EP - 27 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Arlt, Rainer A1 - Valliappan, Senthamizh Pavai A1 - Schmiel, C. A1 - Spada, F. T1 - Sunspot positions, areas, and group tilt angles for 1611-1631 from observations by Christoph Scheiner JF - Mountain research and development N2 - Methods. In most cases, the given orientation of the ecliptic is used to set up the heliographic coordinate system for the drawings. Positions and sizes are measured manually on screen. Very early drawings have no indication of their orientation. A rotational matching using common spots of adjacent days is used in some cases, while in other cases, the assumption that images were aligned with a zenith-horizon coordinate system appeared to be the most probable. KW - Sun: activity KW - sunspots KW - history and philosophy of astronomy Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629000 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 595 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Verma, Meetu A1 - Denker, Carsten A1 - Böhm, F. A1 - Balthasar, H. A1 - Fischer, C. E. A1 - Kuckein, Christoph A1 - Gonzalez, N. Bello A1 - Berkefeld, T. A1 - Collados Vera, M. A1 - Diercke, Andrea A1 - Feller, A. A1 - Gonzalez Manrique, Sergio Javier A1 - Hofmann, A. A1 - Lagg, A. A1 - Nicklas, H. A1 - Orozco Suarez, D. A1 - Pator Yabar, A. A1 - Rezaei, R. A1 - Schlichenmaier, R. A1 - Schmidt, D. A1 - Schmidt, W. A1 - Sigwarth, M. A1 - Sobotka, M. A1 - Solanki, S. K. A1 - Soltau, D. A1 - Staude, J. A1 - Strassmeier, Klaus G. A1 - Volkmer, R. A1 - von der Lühe, O. A1 - Waldmann, T. T1 - Flow and magnetic field properties in the trailing sunspots of active region NOAA 12396 JF - Astronomische Nachrichten = Astronomical notes N2 - Improved measurements of the photospheric and chromospheric three-dimensional magnetic and flow fields are crucial for a precise determination of the origin and evolution of active regions. We present an illustrative sample of multi-instrument data acquired during a two-week coordinated observing campaign in August 2015 involving, among others, the GREGOR solar telescope (imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy) and the space missions Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). The observations focused on the trailing part of active region NOAA 12396 with complex polarity inversion lines and strong intrusions of opposite polarity flux. The GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) provided Stokes IQUV spectral profiles in the photospheric Si i.1082.7 nm line, the chromospheric He I lambda 1083.0 nm triplet, and the photospheric Ca I lambda 1083.9 nm line. Carefully calibrated GRIS scans of the active region provided maps of Doppler velocity and magnetic field at different atmospheric heights. We compare quick-look maps with those obtained with the " Stokes Inversions based on Response functions" (SIR) code, which furnishes deeper insight into the magnetic properties of the region. We find supporting evidence that newly emerging flux and intruding opposite polarity flux are hampering the formation of penumbrae, i.e., a penumbra fully surrounding a sunspot is only expected after cessation of flux emergence in proximity to the sunspots. (C) 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH& Co.KGaA, Weinheim KW - Sun: magnetic fields KW - sunspots KW - methods: data analysis KW - techniques: polarimetric KW - techniques: spectroscopic Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201612447 SN - 0004-6337 SN - 1521-3994 VL - 337 SP - 1090 EP - 1098 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Louis, Rohan E. A1 - Puschmann, Klaus G. A1 - Kliem, Bernhard A1 - Balthasar, Horst A1 - Denker, Carsten T1 - Sunspot splitting triggering an eruptive flare JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Aims. We investigate how the splitting of the leading sunspot and associated flux emergence and cancellation in active region NOAA 11515 caused an eruptive M5.6 flare on 2012 July 2. Methods. Continuum intensity, line-of-sight magnetogram, and dopplergram data of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager were employed to analyse the photospheric evolution. Filtergrams in H alpha and He I 10830 angstrom of the Chromospheric Telescope at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, track the evolution of the flare. The corresponding coronal conditions were derived from 171 angstrom and 304 angstrom images of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly. Local correlation tracking was utilized to determine shear flows. Results. Emerging flux formed a neutral line ahead of the leading sunspot and new satellite spots. The sunspot splitting caused a long-lasting flow towards this neutral line, where a filament formed. Further flux emergence, partly of mixed polarity, as well as episodes of flux cancellation occurred repeatedly at the neutral line. Following a nearby C-class precursor flare with signs of interaction with the filament, the filament erupted nearly simultaneously with the onset of the M5.6 flare and evolved into a coronal mass ejection. The sunspot stretched without forming a light bridge, splitting unusually fast (within about a day, complete approximate to 6 h after the eruption) in two nearly equal parts. The front part separated strongly from the active region to approach the neighbouring active region where all its coronal magnetic connections were rooted. It also rotated rapidly (by 4.9 degrees h(-1)) and caused significant shear flows at its edge. Conclusions. The eruption resulted from a complex sequence of processes in the (sub-)photosphere and corona. The persistent flows towards the neutral line likely caused the formation of a flux rope that held the filament. These flows, their associated flux cancellation, the emerging flux, and the precursor flare all contributed to the destabilization of the flux rope. We interpret the sunspot splitting as the separation of two flux bundles differently rooted in the convection zone and only temporarily joined in the spot. This explains the rotation as the continued rise of the separating flux, and it implies that at least this part of the sunspot was still connected to its roots deep in the convection zone. KW - Sun: flares KW - sunspots KW - Sun: photosphere KW - Sun: chromosphere KW - techniques: photometric Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201321106 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 562 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER -