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What else can I help you with?
The number of sunspots varies in a cycle that lasts how many years?
11 years, on average.11 years, on average.11 years, on average.11 years, on average.
Are sunspots permanent features?
Sunspots are not permanent features on the Sun. They typically last for days to weeks, and then fade away. The number of sunspots varies in an 11-year cycle known as the solar cycle.
Why do the number of visible sunspots change over time?
The number of visible sunspots changes over time due to the solar cycle, which lasts approximately 11 years. This cycle involves variations in solar activity, including the magnetic field strength on the Sun’s surface. During the solar maximum, sunspots are more numerous and larger due to increased solar activity, while during the solar minimum, sunspots are sparse. These fluctuations are a result of the complex interactions between the Sun's magnetic field and its plasma.
What are the black spots called on the sun?
The black spots on the sun are called sunspots. These cooler areas on the sun's surface appear darker than their surroundings due to intense magnetic activity inhibiting heat flow. Sunspots can vary in size and number over an 11-year cycle known as the solar cycle.
Sunspots follow a cycle of how many years?
11 years.
What causes a sunspot cycle?
Sunspot cycles are caused by the differential rotation of the Sun. This rotation causes the Sun's magnetic field lines to become twisted and tangled, leading to the formation of sunspots. The solar cycle lasts approximately 11 years, with sunspot activity peaking and then declining.
How do sunspots change over time?
The number of sunspots increases then decreases in a fairly regular cycle, although it's not totally reliable. The time between each maximum or minimum is usually 11 years. I'm not sure if you mean how do individual spots change, but I've just given this answer about groups of sunspots.
Which solar phenomenon appears in 10- to 12- year cycles?
The sunspot cycle is about 11 years long. This can vary somewhat; the current cycle has had an extended minimum with very few sunspots for about 3 years, and even now the sunspot numbers are very low for this point in the cycle.
What are the dark spots on the photosphere?
Dark spots on the photosphere, known as sunspots, are areas of reduced surface temperature caused by magnetic activity on the Sun. They appear darker than their surroundings because they are cooler and emit less light. Sunspots can vary in size and number over an 11-year solar cycle.
What features are found on the surface of the sun?
The most discernable features on the Sun are sunspots; areas that are a little cooler, and therefore a little darker, than the rest of the Sun around them. We know that sunspots are formed by intense magnetic regions, and that large solar flares and prominences are associated with sunspots. There's a cycle of increasing and decreasing numbers of sunspots that runs about 11 years in length, although this can vary by a couple of years. Slower cycles seem to be correlated with fewer sunspots, and faster cycles with more sunspots, but scientists don't have a detailed explanation for why the cycle exists, or why it is 11 years (more or less) in length. We are currently (in 2014) at or near the maximum of the sunspot cycle. You can see the daily view of the Sun and yesterday's sunspot number at the SpaceWeather website, www.spaceweather.com.
What are the features found on the surface of the sun?
The most discernable features on the Sun are sunspots; areas that are a little cooler, and therefore a little darker, than the rest of the Sun around them. We know that sunspots are formed by intense magnetic regions, and that large solar flares and prominences are associated with sunspots. There's a cycle of increasing and decreasing numbers of sunspots that runs about 11 years in length, although this can vary by a couple of years. Slower cycles seem to be correlated with fewer sunspots, and faster cycles with more sunspots, but scientists don't have a detailed explanation for why the cycle exists, or why it is 11 years (more or less) in length. We are currently (in 2014) at or near the maximum of the sunspot cycle. You can see the daily view of the Sun and yesterday's sunspot number at the SpaceWeather website, www.spaceweather.com.
Why does the number of sunspots vary?
The number of sunspots depends on the magnetic field of the Sun. This magnetic field changes with a period of roughly 22 years; twice in each of these magnetic cycles there is a maximum of sunspots. (So, the sunspot cycle has a period of about 11 years (on average), whilst the magnetic cycle has a period of about 22 years.)I am not sure whether the reasons for the magnetic cycles are completely understood, but you can check what is known so far, in the Wikipedia article on "Solar dynamo".
