Magnetic Activity Index Research Articles

THE MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY S-INDEX OF THE SUN

ABSTRACT The most commonly used index of stellar magnetic activity is the instrumental flux scale of singly ionized calcium H & K line core emission, S, developed by the Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO) HK Project, or the derivative index . Accurately placing the Sun on the S scale is important for comparing solar activity to that of the Sun-like stars. We present previously unpublished measurements of the reflected sunlight from the Moon using the second-generation MWO HK photometer during solar cycle 23 and determine cycle minimum , amplitude , and mean . By establishing a proxy relationship with the closely related National Solar Observatory Sacramento Peak calcium K emission index, itself well correlated with the Kodaikanal Observatory plage index, we extend the MWO S time series to cover cycles 15–24 and find on average , , . Our measurements represent an improvement over previous estimates that relied on stellar measurements or solar proxies with non-overlapping time series. We find good agreement from these results with measurements by the Solar-Stellar Spectrograph at Lowell Observatory, an independently calibrated instrument, which gives us additional confidence that we have accurately placed the Sun on the S-index flux scale.

Statistical properties of solar Hα flare activity

Magnetic field structures on the solar atmosphere are not symmetric distribution in the northern and southern hemispheres, which is an important aspect of quasi-cyclical evolution of magnetic activity indicators that are related to solar dynamo theories. Three standard analysis techniques are applied to analyze the hemispheric coupling (north-south asymmetry and phase asynchrony) of monthly averaged values of solar Hα flare activity over the past 49 years (from 1966 January to 2014 December). The prominent results are as follows: (1) from a global point of view, solar Hα flare activity on both hemispheres are strongly correlated with each other, but the northern hemisphere precedes the southern one with a phase shift of 7 months; (2) the long-range persistence indeed exists in solar Hα flare activity, but the dynamical complexities in the two hemispheres are not identical; (3) the prominent periodicities of Hα flare activity are 17 years full-disk activity cycle and 11 years Schwabe solar cycle, but the short- and mid-term periodicities cannot determined by monthly time series; (4) by comparing the non-parametric rescaling behavior on a point-by-point basis, the hemispheric asynchrony of solar Hα flare activity are estimated to be ranging from several months to tens of months with an average value of 8.7 months. The analysis results could promote our knowledge on the long-range persistence, the quasi-periodic variation, and the hemispheric asynchrony of solar Hα flare activity on both hemispheres, and possibly provide valuable information for the hemispheric interrelation of solar magnetic activity.

The different origins of magnetic fields and activity in the Hertzsprung gap stars, OU Andromedae and 31 Comae

Context: When crossing the Hertzsprung gap, intermediate-mass stars develop a convective envelope. Fast rotators on the main sequence, or Ap star descendants, are expected to become magnetic active subgiants during this evolutionary phase. Aims: We compare the surface magnetic fields and activity indicators of two active, fast rotating red giants with similar masses and spectral class but diferent rotation rates - OU And (Prot=24.2 d) and 31 Com (Prot=6.8 d) - to address the question of the origin of their magnetism and high activity. Methods: Observations were carried out with the Narval spectropolarimeter in 2008 and 2013.We used the least squares deconvolution technique to extract Stokes V and I profiles to detect Zeeman signatures of the magnetic field of the stars. We provide Zeeman-Doppler imaging, activity indicator monitoring, and a precise estimation of stellar parameters. We use stellar evolutionary models to infer the evolutionary status and the initial rotation velocity on the main sequence. Results: The detected magnetic field of OU And is a strong one. Its longitudinal component Bl reaches 40 G and presents an about sinusoidal variation with reversal of the polarity. The magnetic topology of OU And is dominated by large scale elements and is mainly poloidal with an important dipole component, and a significant toroidal component. The detected magnetic field of 31 Com is weaker, with a magnetic map showing a more complex field geometry, and poloidal and toroidal components of equal contributions. The evolutionary models show that the progenitors of OU And and 31 Com must have been rotat Conclusions: OU And appears to be the probable descendant of a magnetic Ap star, and 31 Com the descendant of a relatively fast rotator on the main sequence.

Variations of the Position of Perturbation Layer of Solar Frequency Shifts

The variation of solar p-mode oscillation frequency with the solar magnetic activity is called the frequency shift, which is considered to be caused by a perturbation in a thin layer near the solar surface. A method for predicting the frequency shift by the magnetic activity index and the solar model had been developed previously. In this method, the frequency shift depends on the intensity of magnetic activity and the position of the perturbing source. The intensity of magnetic activity is considered to be proportional to the magnetic activity index. And the position of the perturbing source was assumed to be fixed previously. This paper has studied the variation of the position of perturbing source. By using the observed p-mode oscillation frequency and Ca II index of the Sun, it is found that the position of perturbing source may be varied with the solar magnetic activity. In the solar maximum year, the position of perturbing source is deeper, but it is shallower in the solar minimum year.

A CATALOG OF GALEX ULTRAVIOLET EMISSION FROM SPECTROSCOPICALLY CONFIRMED M DWARFS*

ABSTRACT We present a catalog of Galaxy Evolution Explorer Near-UV (NUV) and Far-UV (FUV) photometry for the Palomar/MSU and SDSS DR7 spectroscopic M dwarf catalogs. The catalog contains NUV measurements matched to 577 spectroscopically confirmed M dwarfs and FUV measurements matched to 150 spectroscopically confirmed M dwarfs. Using these data, we find that NUV and FUV luminosities strongly correlate with Hα emission, a typical indicator of magnetic activity in M dwarfs. We also examine the fraction of M dwarfs with varying degrees of strong line emission at NUV wavelengths. Our results indicate that the frequency of M dwarf NUV emission peaks at intermediate spectral types, with at least ∼30% of young M4–M5 dwarfs having some level of activity. For mid-type M dwarfs, we show that NUV emission decreases with distance from the Galactic plane, a proxy for stellar age. Our complete matched source catalog is available online.

Magnitudes and timescales of total solar irradiance variability

The Sun's net radiative output varies on timescales of minutes to gigayears. Direct measurements of the total solar irradiance (TSI) show changes in the spatially- and spectrally-integrated radiant energy on timescales as short as minutes to as long as a solar cycle. Variations of ~0.01 % over a few minutes are caused by the ever-present superposition of convection and oscillations with very large solar flares on rare occasion causing slightly-larger measureable signals. On timescales of days to weeks, changing photospheric magnetic activity affects solar brightness at the ~0.1 % level. The 11-year solar cycle shows variations of comparable magnitude with irradiances peaking near solar maximum. Secular variations are more difficult to discern, being limited by instrument stability and the relatively short duration of the space-borne record. Historical reconstructions of the Sun's irradiance based on indicators of solar-surface magnetic activity, such as sunspots, faculae, and cosmogenic isotope records, suggest solar brightness changes over decades to millennia, although the magnitudes of these variations have high uncertainties due to the indirect historical records on which they rely. Stellar evolution affects yet longer timescales and is responsible for the greatest solar variabilities. In this manuscript I summarize the Sun's variability magnitudes over different temporal regimes and discuss the irradiance record's relevance for solar and climate studies as well as for detections of exo-solar planets transiting Sun-like stars.

VARIATIONS IN HIGH DEGREE ACOUSTIC MODE FREQUENCIES OF THE SUN DURING SOLAR CYCLES 23 AND 24

We examine continuous measurements of the high-degree acoustic mode frequencies of the Sun covering the period from 2001 July to June 2014. These are obtained through the ring-diagram technique applied to the full-disk Doppler observations made by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). The frequency shifts in the degree range of 180-1200 are correlated with different proxies of solar activity e.g. 10.7 cm radio flux, the International Sunspot Number and the strength of the local magnetic field. In general, a good agreement is found between the shifts and activity indices, and the correlation coefficients are found to be comparable with intermediate degree mode frequencies. Analyzing the frequency shifts separately for the two cycles, we find that cycle 24 is weaker than cycle 23. Since the magnetic activity is known to be different in the two hemisphere, for the first time, we compute the frequency shifts over the two hemispheres separately and find that the shifts also display hemispheric asymmetry; the amplitude of shifts in the northern hemisphere peaked during late 2011, more than two years earlier than the south. We further correlate the hemispheric frequency shifts with the hemispheric sunspot number and mean magnetic activity index. Since the frequency shifts and the hemispheric activity indices are found to be significantly correlated, we suggest that the shifts be used as an indicator of hemispheric activity since not many indices are measured over the two hemispheres separately. We also investigate the variation at different latitudinal bands and conclude that the shifts in active latitudes correlate well with the local magnetic activity index.

Seasonal variations in statistical distributions of geomagnetic activity indices

The frequency distributions of the diurnal and hourly indices of magnetic activity and also the hourly values of the geoeffective parameters of the solar wind over the seasons of the year were analyzed. Confirmation of the equinoctial and summer maximums of magnetic activity was obtained and their statistical significance was shown. Arguments confirming the “axial” and “equinoctial” mechanisms of formation of the equinoctial maximums are presented. An assumption is made that the summer maximum could occur as a result of the existence on the Sun of active Carrington longitudes.

Modeling the pitch angle distribution on the nightside of the Earth’s magnetosphere

A mathematical model has been proposed for the diffusion pitch angle distribution in the magnetosphere. It makes it possible to calculate theoretically the phase space density (or the pitch angle distribution) of charged particles depending on the particle mass and energy, McIlwain parameter, magnetic local time, initial perpendicular value of the particle pitch angle distribution parameter (γ⊥0), variable parameter k characterizing the wave-particle interaction time, and magnetic activity index Kp. The model describes all four main types of pitch angle distributions, together with their variations, and simultaneously takes into account the possible physical mechanisms by which “butterfly” pitch angle distributions are formed as a wave-particle interaction, particle injection and drift, and splitting of the electric field drift shell. The potential of the proposed pitch angle diffusion model in the Earth’s magnetosphere has been demonstrated, as exemplified by the pitch angle distribution evolution over the last 68 hours of the magnetic storm that occurred on May 1–7, 1998. The model was quantitatively tested by a comparison of the calculated proton fluxes with the Polar/MICS spacecraft measurements during the magnetic storm of October 21–22, 1999. Good agreement between the calculated pitch angle distribution and the experimental data was obtained.

Lidar and CTIPe model studies of the fast amplitude growth with altitude of the diurnal temperature “tides” in the Antarctic winter lower thermosphere and dependence on geomagnetic activity

AbstractFour years of lidar observations at McMurdo reveal that the fast amplitude growth with altitude of diurnal temperature tides from 100 to 110 km during Antarctic winters, exceeding that of the freely propagating tides from the lower atmosphere, increases in strength with the Kp magnetic activity index. Simulations with the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics (CTIPe) model reproduce the lidar observations and exhibit concentric ring structures of diurnal amplitudes encircling the south geomagnetic pole and overlapping the auroral zone. These findings point to a magnetospheric source origin. Mechanistic studies using CTIPe show that the adiabatic cooling/heating associated with Hall ion drag is the dominant source of this feature, while Joule heating is a minor contributor due to the counteraction by Joule‐heating‐induced adiabatic cooling. The sum of total dynamical effects and Joule heating explains ~80% of the diurnal amplitudes. Auroral particle heating, lower atmosphere tides, and direct solar heating have minor contributions.

Variations in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F-region during magnetic storms in 2008–2012 at auroral latitudes

Fifty-one magnetic storms occurred during the last solar half-cycle of transition from the epoch minimum to the epoch maximum are considered. Ionospheric (foF2) and magnetic (X component) data from Sodankyla observatory, Finland, were used for the analysis, as well as values of the ΣKp indices of magnetic activity. The dependence of variations in the critical frequency foF2 was studied before, during, and after each storm. It has been revealed that a major effect (ME) takes place for all of the storms analyzed. It consists in the following: the first maximum in foF2 values occurs several days before the onset of the active phase of a storm, then foF2 attains its minimum during the active phase, and the second maximum occurred after the active phase. Five principals, the most frequent types of variation in foF2 during a storm, have been revealed. However, special cases (30%) in which an ME exists but shifts rightward several days along the time axis are observable. Ionospheric “memory” (inertia) from 8–9 h to 2 days has been revealed. It has been ascertained that the occurrence of the first ME maximum can be considered a magnetic storm precursor. Such a precursor potentially can be used for forecasting the beginning of magnetic storm development, which is important for space weather problems.

PC index as a proxy of the solar wind energy that entered into the magnetosphere: Development of magnetic substorms

AbstractThe Polar Cap (PC) index has been approved by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA XXII Assembly, Merida, Меxico, 2013) as a new index of magnetic activity. The PC index can be considered to be a proxy of the solar wind energy that enters the magnetosphere. This distinguishes PC from AL and Dst indices that are more related to the dissipation of energy through auroral currents or storage of energy in the ring current during magnetic substorms or storms. The association of the PC index with the direct coupling of the solar wind energy into the magnetosphere is based upon analysis of the relationship of PC with parameters in the solar wind, on the one hand, and correlation between the time series of PC and the AL index (substorm development), on the other hand. This paper (the first of a series) provides the results of statistical investigations that demonstrate a strong correlation between the behavior of PC and the development of magnetic substorms. Substorms are classified as isolated and expanded. We found that (1) substorms are preceded by growth in the РС index, (2) sudden substorm expansion onsets are related to “leap” or “reverse” signatures in the PC index which are indicative of a sharp increase in the PC growth rate, (3) substorms start to develop when PC exceeds a threshold level 1.5 ± 0.5 mV/m irrespective of the length of the substorm growth phase, and (4) there is a linear relation between the intensity of substorms and PC for all substorm events.

A statistical study of the subsurface structure and eruptivity of solar active regions

A statistical study of 77 solar active regions (ARs) is conducted to investigate the existence of identifiable correlations between the subsurface structural disturbances and the activity level of the active regions. The disturbances examined in this study are 〈|δΓ1/Γ1|〉, 〈|δc2/c2|〉, and 〈|δc2/c2−δΓ1/Γ1|〉, where Γ1 and c are the thermodynamic properties of first adiabatic index and sound speed modified by magnetic field, respectively. The averages are over three depth layers: 0.975–0.98R⊙, 0.98–0.99R⊙ and 0.99–0.995R⊙ to represent the structural disturbances in that layer. The level of the surface magnetic activity is measured by the Magnetic Activity Index (MAI) of active region and the relative and absolute MAI differences (rdMAI and dMAI) between the active and quiet regions. The eruptivity of each active region is quantified by its Flare Index, total number of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and total kinetic energy of the CMEs. The existence and level of the correlations are evaluated by scatter plots and correlation coefficients. No definitive correlation can be claimed from the results. While a weak positive trend is visible between dMAI and 〈|δΓ1/Γ1|〉 and 〈|δc2/c2|〉 in the layer 0.975–0.98R⊙, their correlation levels, being approximately 0.6, are not sufficiently high to justify the correlation. Some subsurface disturbances are seen to increase with eruptivity indices among ARs with high eruptivity. The statistical significance of such trend, however, cannot be ascertained due to the small number of very eruptive ARs in our sample.

Determining the boundaries of the auroral oval from CHAMP field-aligned current signatures – Part 1

Abstract. In this paper we present the first statistical study on auroral oval boundaries derived from small- and medium-scale field-aligned currents (FACs, < 150 km). The dynamics of both the equatorward and poleward boundaries is deduced from 10 years of CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) magnetic field data (August 2000–August 2010). The approach for detecting the boundaries from FACs works well under dark conditions. For a given activity level the boundaries form well-defined ellipses around the magnetic pole. The latitudes of the equatorward and poleward boundaries both depend, but in different ways, on magnetic activity. With increasing magnetic activity the equatorward boundary expands everywhere, while the poleward boundary shows on average no dependence on activity around midnight, which seems to be stationary at a value of about 72° Mlat. Functional relations between the latitudes of the boundaries and different magnetic activity indices have been tested. Best results for a linear dependence are derived for both boundaries with the dayside merging electric field. The other indices, like the auroral electrojet (AE) and disturbance storm time (Dst) index, also provide good linear relations but with some caveats. Toward high activity a saturation of equatorwards expansion seems to set in. The locations of the auroral boundaries are practically independent of the level of the solar EUV flux and show no dependence on season.

Correlations between sunspot numbers, interplanetary parameters and geomagnetic trends over solar cycles 21–23

We have analysed correlations between sunspot numbers, solar wind, ion density, interplanetary magnetic field vis-à-vis magnetic activity. Planetary geomagnetic index (Ap) and local residual measure of magnetic activity (IΔH) from low-latitude Magnetic Observatory, CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad (IMO-HYB) spanning solar cycles 21–23 are used for this study.Using correlation coefficients between and wavelet decomposition of sunspot numbers, interplanetary parameters and measures of magnetic activity, the complex and time varying nature of these inter-relationships are brought out. The overall influence of sunspot number could be separated and combined episodic effects of other solar parameters could be distinguished. The demonstrated correlation or lack of it, between measures of magnetic activity (Ap and IΔH), and all the parameters of solar activity, presented here corroborate established mechanisms as well as delineated clearly the relative impact of different solar mechanisms over phases of three solar cycles. The possible role of non-sunspot related activity from high latitude regions of the sun is indicated.

TRENDS IN ULTRACOOL DWARF MAGNETISM. II. THE INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN X-RAY ACTIVITY AND ROTATION AS EVIDENCE FOR A BIMODAL DYNAMO

Observations of magnetic activity indicators in solar-type stars exhibit a relationship with rotation with an increase until a "saturation" level and a moderate decrease in activity in the very fastest rotators ("supersaturation"). While X-ray data have suggested that this relationship is strongly violated in ultracool dwarfs (UCDs; spectral type >M7), the limited number of X-ray detections has prevented firm conclusions. In this paper, we analyze the X-ray activity-rotation relation in 38 ultracool dwarfs. Our sample represents the largest catalog of X-ray active ultracool dwarfs to date, including seven new and four previously-unpublished Chandra observations presented in a companion paper. We identify a substantial number of rapidly-rotating UCDs with X-ray activity extending two orders of magnitude below the expected saturation level and measure a "supersaturation"-type anticorrelation between rotation and X-ray activity. The scatter in UCD X-ray activity at a fixed rotation is ~3 times larger than that in earlier-type stars. We discuss several mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the data, including centrifugal stripping of the corona, and find them to be inconsistent with the observed trends. Instead, we suggest that an additional parameter correlated with both X-ray activity and rotation is responsible for the observed effects. Building on the results of Zeeman-Doppler imaging of UCD magnetic fields and our companion study of radio/X-ray flux ratios, we argue that this parameter is the magnetic field topology, and that the large scatter in UCD X-ray fluxes reflects the presence of two dynamo modes that produce distinct topologies.

On the use of geomagnetic indices and ULF waves for earthquake precursor signatures

Ultralow frequency (ULF: 0.001–5 Hz) magnetic records have recently been used in the search for short‐term earthquake prediction methods. The separation of local and global effects in the magnetic records is the greatest challenge in this research area. Geomagnetic indices are often used to predict global ULF magnetic behavior where it is assumed that increases in a geomagnetic index correspond with an increase in ULF power. This paper examines the relationships between geomagnetic indices and ULF power, spectral polarization ratio, and the relationship between the spectral polarization ratio and solar wind parameters. The power in the ULF, Pc3‐5 bands (10–600 s), shows a linear correlation coefficient of 0.2 with the Kp magnetic activity index. The correlation varies with magnetic local time (MLT) and latitude. The correlation coefficient is inversely related to the integrated power in the ULF Pc3 band (10–45 s) over MLT and magnetic latitude. The ratio of spectral powers Z(ω)/G(ω) is discussed and shown to be a promising parameter in the search for earthquake precursor signals in ULF records.

Photometric magnetic-activity metrics tested with the Sun: application toKeplerM dwarfs

The Kepler mission has been providing high-quality photometric data leading to many breakthroughs in the exoplanet search and in stellar physics. Stellar magnetic activity results from the interaction between rotation, convection, and magnetic field. Constraining these processes is important if we want to better understand stellar magnetic activity. Using the Sun, we want to test a magnetic activity index based on the analysis of the photometric response and then apply it to a sample of M dwarfs observed by Kepler. We estimate a global stellar magnetic activity index by measuring the standard deviation of the whole time series, Sph. Because stellar variability can be related to convection, pulsations or magnetism, we need to ensure that this index mostly takes into account magnetic effects. We define another stellar magnetic activity index as the average of the standard deviation of shorter subseries which lengths are determined by the rotation period of the star. This way we can ensure that the measured photometric variability is related to starspots crossing the visible stellar disc. This new index combined with a time-frequency analysis based on the Morlet wavelets allows us to determine the existence of magnetic activity cycles. We measure magnetic indexes for the Sun and for 34 M dwarfs observed by Kepler. As expected, we obtain that the sample of M dwarfs studied in this work is much more active than the Sun. Moreover, we find a small correlation between the rotation period and the magnetic index. Finally, by combining a time-frequency analysis with phase diagrams, we discover the presence of long-lived features suggesting the existence of active longitudes on the surface of these stars.

The Hertzsprung-gap giant 31 Comae in 2013: Magnetic field and activity indicators

AbstractWe have observed the giant star 31 Comae in April and May 2013 with the spectropolarimeter Narval at Pic du Midi Observatory, France. 31 Comae is a single, rapidly rotating giant with rotational period ~6.8 d and vsini ~ 67 km/s. We present measurements and discuss variability of the longitudinal magnetic field (Bl), spectral activity indicators Hα, CaII H&K, Ca II IR triplet and evolutionary status. Our future aim is to perform a Zeeman-Doppler imaging study for the star.

Rapid‐run ionosonde observations of traveling ionospheric disturbances in the auroral ionosphere

AbstractSince 2007, the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory routinely performs vertical ionosphere soundings once per minute, using a frequency‐modulated continuous‐wave chirp at the rate of 500 kHz/s from 500 kHz to 16 MHz. We used these data to study traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) during 10–16 local time. The observations were made between April 2007 and June 2012, mostly during low solar activity. The TIDs were studied in five bands of periods corresponding to the following: infrasonic (acoustic) waves and the buoyancy cutoff (periods from 5 to 10 min); small‐scale gravity waves (GWs; 10–15 min); medium‐scale (MS; 15–30 min) GWs; medium‐large scale (MS‐LS; 30–60 min) GWs; and large‐scale (LS; 60–120 min) GWs. Relative contribution (with respect to LS TIDs) of the short‐period (5–15 min) and MS (15–30 min) TIDs shows minima in winter and maxima in summer. These annual variations anticorrelate with variations of true height, namely, the largest relative amplitudes occur in summer, when TIDs were observed at minimal heights. We suggest that the summer increase of shorter‐period TIDs is due to lowering reflection to the height where the Brunt‐Väisälä period is smaller and, hence, shorter‐period gravity waves exist. The summer maxima were most prominent during the 3 years of minimal solar activity (2008–2010). In 2011, when solar activity increased, the annual variation seems less prominent. Annual variations of the longer‐period (30–120 min) TIDs are essentially less significant. For all TIDs, no obvious dependences on the AE and Ap indices of magnetic activity were found.