Analysis of multiple time scales feature and chaotic property for time series of relative sunspot numbers

Abstract

Using observational data of the relative sunspot numbers from January 1749 to December 2016, the multiple time scales and chaotic characteristics have been analyzed based on the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method and chaotic dynamics theory, then the differences between the relative sunspot numbers and the time series with the periodic components removed are especially compared. The results show that the relative sunspot numbers are mainly composed of periodic components, chaotic components and a trend component, and they have multi-time scale and chaotic characteristics. Therefore, the long-term solar activity is the result of the physical mechanism of periodic phenomenon and the factors of chaotic dynamical characteristics. In the mul-me scale analysis, the results are still the same as the relative sunspot numbers removed chaotic components, but chaotic characteristics become stronger if the periodic components are removed.