Differential Rotation of the Solar Chromosphere: A Century-long Perspective from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory Ca ii K Data

Abstract

Chromospheric differential rotation is a key component in comprehending the atmospheric coupling between the chromosphere and the photosphere at different phases of the solar cycle. In this study, we therefore utilize the newly calibrated multidecadal Ca ii K spectroheliograms (1907–2007) from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) to investigate the differential rotation of the solar chromosphere using the technique of image cross-correlation. Our analysis yields the chromospheric differential rotation rate Ω(θ) = (14.61 ± 0.04–2.18 ± 0.37 sin2θ−1.10±0.61sin4θ)° day−1. These results suggest the chromospheric plages exhibit an equatorial rotation rate 1.59% faster than the photosphere when compared with the differential rotation rate measured using sunspots and also a smaller latitudinal gradient compared to the same. To compare our results to those from other observatories, we have applied our method on a small sample of Ca ii K data from Rome, Meudon, and Mount Wilson observatories, which support our findings from KoSO data. Additionally, we have not found any significant north–south asymmetry or any systematic variation in chromospheric differential rotation over the last century.