The magnetic field in a sunspot is stronger than the surrounding areas on the Sun's surface. It is also highly concentrated and can cause a suppression of convection, leading to cooler temperatures in the sunspot region. This can manifest as a darker area compared to its surroundings due to the reduced energy output.
The center portion of a sunspot is called the umbra. It is the darkest part of the sunspot where the magnetic field is strongest and the temperature is cooler than the surrounding areas.
Prominences are arcs of glowing gas that are anchored to the Sun's surface by magnetic fields. They are caused by the interaction between the Sun's magnetic field and its plasma atmosphere. Plasma flows along the magnetic field lines, giving rise to the appearance of solar prominences.
The sunspot cycle is an approximately 11-year periodic variation in sunspot number on the Sun. It is characterized by a rise in sunspot activity leading to a peak, followed by a decline in activity to a minimum, and then the cycle repeats. Sunspots are dark regions on the Sun's surface caused by its magnetic field, and the cycle is linked to changes in solar activity and space weather.
Sunspot activity is closely related to other forms of solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The presence of sunspots indicates areas of intense magnetic activity on the Sun's surface, which can lead to the release of energy in the form of solar flares. These flares and CMEs often occur in conjunction with sunspot cycles, as both phenomena are influenced by the Sun's magnetic field dynamics. Thus, sunspot activity serves as a key indicator of overall solar activity and its potential impact on space weather.
The layer of the Sun where eruptions occur due to the sudden connection of loops in sunspot regions is the corona. These eruptions, known as solar flares, are caused by the release of magnetic energy stored in the corona. The interactions and reconnections of magnetic field lines in this outer atmosphere can lead to significant bursts of energy and matter into space.
The two parts of a sunspot are the dark central region called the umbra and the lighter surrounding region called the penumbra. The umbra is cooler than the surrounding regions and is where the magnetic field is most intense.
The sunspot cycle is driven by the sun's magnetic field. This cycle involves the creation, movement, and disappearance of sunspots on the sun's surface over an 11-year period. Changes in the magnetic field cause fluctuations in solar activity, leading to variations in sunspot numbers.
About 11 years on average - but there are large variations in the length of individual cycles. Once each sunspot cycle, the magnetic field on the Sun reverts - so the real (underlying) cycle is about 22 years. (It takes two sunspot cycles for the magnetic field to go back to the original position.)
Magnetic field lines.
The center portion of a sunspot is called the umbra. It is the darkest part of the sunspot where the magnetic field is strongest and the temperature is cooler than the surrounding areas.
The darkened area of a sunspot is called the umbra. It is the central region of a sunspot where the magnetic field is strongest, causing the area to appear darker compared to the surrounding photosphere of the Sun.
The sun's rotation twists the magnetic field lines of force, causing hot spots of magnetic activity at the surface. The magnetic field slows down convection of energy produced by fusion below the surface, which causes a cooling effect(a sunspot). The magnetic field breaks down eventually and the sunspot dissipates, and convection goes up above normal in the region. Over time, magnetic field activity induces/creates other magnetic fields, decays, then those magnetic fields rebuild the old one, then they decay, and it goes on and on like that. The direction of the largest/main field reverses like a pendulum every 11 years.
The sun's rotation twists the magnetic field lines of force, causing hot spots of magnetic activity at the surface. The magnetic field slows down convection of energy produced by fusion below the surface, which causes a cooling effect(a sunspot). The magnetic field breaks down eventually and the sunspot dissipates, and convection goes up above normal in the region. Over time, magnetic field activity induces/creates other magnetic fields, decays, then those magnetic fields rebuild the old one, then they decay, and it goes on and on like that. The direction of the largest/main field reverses like a pendulum every 11 years.
The sun goes through a magnetic reversal twice in every sunspot cycle.
The lighter-colored region around the dark center of a sunspot is called the penumbra. It consists of less dense magnetic field lines compared to the umbra, which is the darkest part of the sunspot.
The sun's rotation twists the magnetic field lines of force, causing hot spots of magnetic activity at the surface. The magnetic field slows down convection of energy produced by fusion below the surface, which causes a cooling effect(a sunspot). The magnetic field breaks down eventually and the sunspot dissipates, and convection goes up above normal in the region. Over time, magnetic field activity induces/creates other magnetic fields, decays, then those magnetic fields rebuild the old one, then they decay, and it goes on and on like that. The direction of the largest/main field reverses like a pendulum every 11 years.
Sunspots are dark, cooler spots on the sun caused by the sun's magnetic field. I believe the cycle between highs and lows of sunspot numbers is 11 years.