Large Sunspot Research Articles

The Tendencies and Timeline of the Solar Burst Type II Fragmented

We report the timeline of the solar radio burst Type II that formed but fragmented at certain point based on the eruption of the solar flare on 13th November 2012 at 2:04:20 UT. The active region AR 1613 is one of the most active region in 2012. It is well known that the magnetic energy in the solar corona is explosively released before converted into the thermal and kinetic energy in solar flares. In this work, the Compound Astronomical Low-frequency, Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy Transportable Observatories (CALLIISTO) system is used in obtaining a dynamic spectrum of solar radio burst data. There are eight active regions and this is the indicator that the Sun is currently active. Most the active regions radiate a Beta radiation. The active regions 1610, 1611 and 1614 are currently the largest sunspots on the visible solar disk. There is an increasing chance for an isolated M-Class solar flare event. It is also expected that there will be a chance of an M flare, especially from AR 1614 and 1610. Although these two observations (radio and X-rays) seem to be dominant on the observational analysis, we could not directly confirmed that this is the only possibility, and we need to consider other processes to explain in detailed the injection, energy loss and the mechanism of the acceleration of the particles. In conclusion, the percentage of energy of solar flare becomes more dominant rather than the acceleration of particles through the Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and that will be the main reason why does the harmonic structure of type II burst is not formed. This event is one fine example of tendencies solar radio burst type III, which makes the harmonic structure of solar radio burst type II fragmented.

Long-term variations in sunspot characteristics

Relative variations in the number of sunspots and sunspot groups in activity cycles have been analyzed based on data from the Kislovodsk Mountain Astronomical Station and international indices. The following regularities have been established: (1) The relative fraction of small sunspots decreases linearly and that of large sunspots increase with increasing activity cycle amplitude. (2) The variation in the average number of sunspots in one group has a trend, and this number decreased from ∼12 in cycle 19 to ∼7.5 in cycle 24. (3) The ratio of the sunspot index (Ri) to the sunspot group number index (G gr) varies with a period of about 100 years. (4) An analysis of the sunspot group number index (G gr) from 1610 indicates that the Gnevyshev-Ohl rule reverses at the minimums of secular activity cycles. (5) Ratio of the total area to area of Ssp/Sum nuclei has long-term variation with a period approximately 8 cycles. Minimum ratio falls on 16–17 cycles of activity. (6) It has been indicated that the magnetic field intensity and sunspot area in the current cycle are related to the amplitude of the next activity cycle.

MODE CONVERSION BETWEEN DIFFERENT RADIAL ORDERS FOR SOLAR ACOUSTIC WAVES SCATTERED BY SUNSPOTS

We study the mode conversion between different radial orders for solar acoustic waves interacting with sunspots. Solar acoustic waves are modified in the presence of sunspots. The modification in the wave can be viewed as that the sunspot, excited by the incident wave, generates the scattered wave, and the scattered wave is added to the incident wave to form the total wave inside and around the sunspot. The wavefunction of the acoustic wave on the solar surface is computed from the cross-correlation function. The wavefunction of the scattered wave is obtained by subtracting the wavefunction of the incident wave from that of the total wave. We use the incident waves of radial order n = 0-5 to measure the scattered wavefunctions from n to another radial order n' for NOAAs 11084 and 11092. The strength of scattered waves decreases rapidly with |Δn|, where Δn ≡ n' – n. The scattered waves of Δn = ±1 are visible for n ≤ 1, and significant for n ≥ 2. For the scattered wave of Δn = ±2, only few cases are visible. None of the scattered waves of Δn = ±3 are visible. The properties of scattered waves for Δn = 0 and Δn ≠ 0 are different. The scattered wave amplitude relative to the incident wave amplitude decreases with n for Δn = 0, while it increases with n for Δn ≠ 0. The scattered wave amplitudes of Δn = 0 are greater for the larger sunspot, while those of Δn ≠ 0 are insensitive to the sunspot size.

One Possible Reason for Double-Peaked Maxima in Solar Cycles: Is a Second Maximum of Solar Cycle 24 Expected?

We investigate solar activity by focusing on double maxima in solar cycles and try to estimate the shape of the current solar cycle (Cycle 24) during its maximum. We analyzed data for Solar Cycle 24 by using Learmonth Solar Observatory sunspot group data since 2008. All sunspot groups (SGs) recorded during this time interval were separated into two groups: The first group includes small SGs [A, B, C, H, classes by the Zurich classification], and the second group consists of large SGs [D, E, and F]. We then calculated small and large sunspot group numbers, their sunspot numbers [SSN] and Zurich numbers [Rz] from their daily mean numbers as observed on the solar disk during a given month. We found that the temporal variations for these three different separations behave similarly. We also analyzed the general shape of solar cycles from Cycle 1 to 23 by using monthly International Sunspot Number [ISSN] data and found that the durations of maxima were about 2.9 years. Finally, we used ascending time and SSN relationship and found that the maximum of the Cycle 24 should be later than 2011. Thus, we conclude that i) one possible reason for a double maximum in solar cycles is the different behavior of large and small sunspot groups, and ii) a double maximum is coming for Solar Cycle 24.

Limits to solar cycle predictability: Cross-equatorial flux plumes

Within the Babcock-Leighton framework for the solar dynamo, the strength of a cycle is expected to depend on the strength of the dipole moment or net hemispheric flux during the preceding minimum, which depends on how much flux was present in each hemisphere at the start of the previous cycle and how much net magnetic flux was transported across the equator during the cycle. Some of this transport is associated with the random walk of magnetic flux tubes subject to granular and supergranular buffeting, some of it is due to the advection caused by systematic cross-equatorial flows such as those associated with the inflows into active regions, and some crosses the equator during the emergence process. We aim to determine how much of the cross-equatorial transport is due to small-scale disorganized motions (treated as diffusion) compared with other processes such as emergence flux across the equator. We measure the cross-equatorial flux transport using Kitt Peak synoptic magnetograms, estimating both the total and diffusive fluxes. Occasionally a large sunspot group, with a large tilt angle emerges crossing the equator, with flux from the two polarities in opposite hemispheres. The largest of these events carry a substantial amount of flux across the equator (compared to the magnetic flux near the poles). We call such events cross-equatorial flux plumes. There are very few such large events during a cycle, which introduces an uncertainty into the determination of the amount of magnetic flux transported across the equator in any particular cycle. As the amount of flux which crosses the equator determines the amount of net flux in each hemisphere, it follows that the cross-equatorial plumes introduce an uncertainty in the prediction of the net flux in each hemisphere. This leads to an uncertainty in predictions of the strength of the following cycle.

Bimodal Distribution of Magnetic Fields and Areas of Sunspots

We applied automatic identification of sunspot umbrae and penumbrae to daily observations from the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to study their magnetic flux (B) and area (A). The results confirm a previously known logarithmic relationship between the area of sunspots and their maximum flux density. In addition, we find that the relation between average magnetic flux (Bavg) and sunspot area shows a bimodal distribution: for small sunspots and pores (A < 20 millionth of solar hemisphere, MSH), Bavg = 800 G (gauss), and for large sunspots (A > 100 MSH), Bavg is about 600 G. For intermediate sunspots, average flux density linearly decreases from about 800 G to 600 G. A similar bimodal distribution was found in several other integral parameters of sunspots. We show that this bimodality can be related to different stages of sunspot penumbra formation and can be explained by the difference in average inclination of magnetic fields at the periphery of small and large sunspots.

CHROMOSPHERIC MASS MOTIONS AND INTRINSIC SUNSPOT ROTATIONS FOR NOAA ACTIVE REGIONS 10484, 10486, AND 10488 USING ISOON DATA

This work utilizes Improved Solar Observing Optical Network (ISOON: Neidig et al. 2003) continuum (630.2 nm) and H{\alpha} (656.2 nm) data to: 1) detect and measure intrinsic sunspot rotations occurring in the photosphere and chromosphere, 2) identify and measure chromospheric filament mass motions, and 3) assess any large-scale photospheric and chromospheric mass couplings. Significant results from October 27-29, 2003, using the techniques of Brown et al. (2003), indicate significant counter-rotation between the two large sunspots in NOAA AR 10486 on October 29, as well as discrete filament mass motions in NOAA AR 10484 on October 27 that appears associated with at least one C-class solar flare.

Effect of stellar spots on high-precision transit light-curve

Stellar activity features such as spots can create complications in determining planetary parameters through spectroscopic and photometric observations. The overlap of a transiting planet and a stellar spot, for instance, can produce anomalies in the transit light curves that may lead to inaccurate estimation of the transit duration, depth and timing. For instance such inaccuracies can affect the precise derivation of the planet's radius. In this paper, we present the results of a quantitative study on the effects of stellar spots on high precision transit light curves. We show that spot anomalies can lead to the estimate of a planet radius that is 4% smaller than the real value. The effects on the transit duration can also be of the order of 4%, longer or shorter. Depending on the size and distribution of spots, anomalies can also produce transit timing variations with significant amplitudes. For instance, TTVs with signal amplitudes of 200 seconds can be produced when the spot is completely dark and as large as the largest Sun spot. Our study also indicates that the minimum size of a stellar spot with detectable affects on the high precision transit light curve is around 0.03 time the stellar radius for typical Kepler telescope precision. We also show that the strategy of including more free parameters (such as transit depth and duration) in the fitting procedure to measure the transit time of each individual transit will not produce accurate results in the case of active stars.

Can Superflares Occur on Our Sun?

Abstract Recent observations of Sun-like stars, similar to our Sun in their surface temperature (5600–6000 K) and slow rotation (rotational period $ &amp;gt;$ 10 d), using the Kepler satellite by Maehara et al. (2012, Nature, 485, 478) have revealed the existence of superflares (with energy of 10$ ^{33}$ –10$ ^{35}$ erg). From statistical analyses of these superflares, it was found that superflares with energy of 10$ ^{34}$ erg occur once in 800 yr, and superflares with 10$ ^{35}$ erg occur once in 5000 yr. In this paper, we examine whether superflares with energy of 10$ ^{33}$ –10$ ^{35}$ erg could occur on the present Sun through the use of simple order-of-magnitude estimates based on current ideas related to the mechanisms of the solar dynamo. If magnetic flux is generated by differential rotation at the base of the convection zone, as assumed in typical dynamo models, it is possible that the present Sun would generate a large sunspot with a total magnetic flux of $ \sim$ 2 $ \times$ 10$ ^{23}$ Mx ($ =$ G cm$ ^{2}$ ) within one solar cycle period, and lead to superflares with an energy of 10$ ^{34}$ erg. To store a total magnetic flux of $ \sim$ 10$ ^{24}$ Mx, necessary for generating 10$ ^{35}$ erg superflares, it would take $ \sim$ 40 yr. Hot Jupiters have often been argued to be a necessary ingredient for the generation of superflares, but we found that they do not play any essential role in the generation of magnetic flux in the star itself, if we consider only the magnetic interaction between the star and the hot Jupiter. This seems to be consistent with Maehara et al.'s finding of 148 superflare-generating solar-type stars that do not have a hot Jupiter-like companion. Altogether, our simple calculations, combined with Maehara et al.'s analysis of superflares on Sun-like stars, show that there is a possibility that superflares of 10$ ^{34}$ erg would occur once in 800 yr on our present Sun.

Long-term temporal variations in the areas of sunspot groups

Recently, ħ0125protectJavaraiah2012a) analyzed the combined Greenwich and Solar Optical Observing Network (SOON) sunspot group data during the period 1874–2011 and studied variations in the annual numbers (counts) of the small (maximum area AM<100 millionth of solar hemisphere, msh), large (100⩽AM<300msh), and big (AM⩾300msh) sunspot groups. Here that analysis is extended and studied variations in the mean maximum sizes (the mean values of maximum areas) of the aforementioned three classes of sunspot groups and also their combination. It is found that there is no significant correlation between the mean maximum size of any class of sunspot groups and the International Sunspot Number (RZ), probably due to in a given time interval small sunspot groups/sunspots outnumber the large ones. A pattern of an approximate 9-year period cycle is seen in the variations of the mean maximum sizes of the large and the big sunspot groups during a solar cycle. On long-time scales it is found that there exists a strong 130 or more years cycle in the variation of the mean size of the small sunspot groups, whereas there is a hint on the existence of ≈44-year cycles in the variations of the mean maximum sizes of the large and the big sunspot groups. During the decline phase of cycle 23, there was a scarcity in the sunspot groups whose AM⩽37msh, which may be related to the slow growth of sunspot groups during this period. During the minimum between cycles 23 and 24 may be due to the presence of a number of small sunspot groups whose AM>37 was larger than that of whose AM⩽37, the relatively large size coronal holes were present at low-latitudes and the total solar irradiance was very low.

On the relationship between the size and surface coverage of starspots on magnetically active low-mass stars

We present a model that predicts the light curve amplitude distribution for an ensemble of low-mass magnetically active stars, under the assumptions that stellar spin axes are randomly orientated and that cool starspots have a characteristic scale length and are randomly distributed across the stellar surfaces. The model is compared with observational data for highly magnetically active M-dwarfs in the young cluster NGC 2516. We find that the best fitting starspot scale length is not constrained by these data alone, but requires assumptions about the overall starspot filling factor and starspot temperature. Assuming a spot coverage fraction of 0.4+/-0.1 and a starspot to unspotted photosphere temperature ratio of 0.7+/-0.05, as suggested by the inflated radii of these stars compared to evolutionary model predictions and by TiO band measurements on other active cool stars of earlier spectral type, the best-fitting starspot angular scale length is 3.5(+2)(-1) degrees, or a linear scale length of \sim 25000 km. This linear scale length is similar to large sunspot groups, but 2--5 times smaller than the starspots recently deduced on an active G-dwarf using eclipse mapping by a transiting exoplanet. However, the best-fitting spot scale length in the NGC 2516 M-dwarfs increases with the assumed spot temperature ratio and with the inverse square root of the assumed spot filling factor. Hence the light curve amplitude distribution might equally well be described by these larger spot scale lengths if the spot filling factors are <0.1 or the spot temperature ratio is >0.9.

Relative phase analyses of 10.7 cm solar radio flux with sunspot numbers

Three nonlinear approaches, including the cross-recurrence plot, line of synchronization and cross-wavelet transform, have been proposed to analyze the phase asynchrony between 10.7cm solar radio flux and sunspot numbers during the period of 1947 February to 2012 June. It is found that, (1) the amplitude variation of the two indicators become more asynchronous around the minimum and maximum of a solar cycle than at the ascending and descending phases of the cycle; (2) the phase relationship between them is not only time-dependent but also frequency-dependent, which may be related to the processes of accumulation and dissipation of solar magnetic energy from the lower to the upper atmosphere. Our findings indicate that bright regions and large sunspot groups are more likely to shed light on solar energy radiation than active regions and small sunspot groups.

Dynamics of magnetic tubes during the formation of a large sunspot

The emergence of new magnetic flux in the powerful active region NOAA 10488 on the Sun and the formation of a leading spot is studied using SOHO/MDI data. Magnetograms of the longitudinal magnetic field and radial-velocity data obtained with a temporal resolution of 1 min are analyzed. The analysis begins several hours before the appearance of the top of a rising buoyant loop-like tube of magnetic field in the photosphere and finishes two days later, when the leading spot has formed. The emerging arches of magnetic field had a complex, multi-layered structure. Their apparent concentration can be explained by the emergence of the leading base of an ascending Ω tube. The new magnetic flux emerged in the inner parts of the active region throughout the formation of the leading sunspot, and was accompanied by the development of a penumbra and the appearance of the Evershed effect in the southwest sector of the sunspot. Simultaneous with the development of Evershed flows, the outer parts of the longitudinal magnetic field were gradually separated from the sunspot in the radial direction. As a result, a moat and a quasi-annular structure were formed in the magnetic field. The formation of a “moat” cell is part of the unified large-scale formation of the sunspot and the entire active region. The formation of an active region and of its structures is a manifestation of large-scale processes taking place in subphotospheric layers.

ON A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE LONG-TERM DECREASE IN SUNSPOT FIELD STRENGTH

Recent studies revealed a controversy in long-term variations in sunspot field strengths. On one hand, the sunspot field strengths computed by averaging both large and small sunspots and pores show a gradual decrease over the declining phase of solar Cycle 23 and the rising phase of Cycle 24. On the other hand, the strongest sunspot field strengths demonstrate only solar cycle variations with no long-term decline. Here, we investigate the field strength and area properties of sunspots in an attempt to reconcile the presence of both tendencies in recent sunspot field strength measurements. First, we analyze the data set from Penn & Livingston, and we show that in addition to the previously reported long-term decline, the data show the solar cycle variation when only sunspots with the strongest magnetic fields are included. Next, we investigate the variations in the number of sunspots of different sizes, and we find a negative correlation between the numbers of small and large sunspots. Finally, we show that during the period of 1998-2011, the number of large sunspots gradually decreased, while the number of small sunspots steadily increased. We suggest that this change in the fraction of small and large sunspots (perhaps, due to changes in the solar dynamo) can explain the gradual decline in average sunspot field strength as observed by Penn & Livingston.

Change of Sunspot Groups Observed from 2002 to 2011 at ButterStar Observatory

Since the development of surface magnetic features should reflect the evolution of the solar magnetic field in the deep interior of the Sun, it is crucial to study properties of sunspots and sunspot groups to understand the physical processes working below the solar surface. Here, using the data set of sunspot groups observed at the ButterStar observatory for 3,364 days from 2002 October 16 to 2011 December 31, we investigate temporal change of sunspot groups depending on their Zurich classification type. Our main findings are as follows: (1) There are more sunspot groups in the southern hemisphere in solar cycle 23, while more sunspot groups appear in the northern hemisphere in solar cycle 24. We also note that in the declining phase of solar cycle 23 the decreasing tendency is apparently steeper in the solar northern hemisphere than in the solar southern hemisphere. (2) Some of sunspot group types make a secondary peak in the distribution between the solar maximum and the solar minimum. More importantly, in this particular data set, sunspot groups which have appeared in the solar southern hemisphere make a secondary peak 1 year after a secondary peak occurs in the solar northern hemisphere. (3) The temporal variations of small and large sunspot group numbers are disparate. That is, the number of large sunspot group declines earlier and faster and that the number of small sunspot group begins to rise earlier and faster. (4) The total number of observed sunspot is found to behave more likewise as the small sunspot group does. Hence, according to our findings, behaviors and evolution of small magnetic flux tubes and large magnetic flux tubes seem to be different over solar cycles. Finally, we conclude by briefly pointing out its implication on the space weather forecast.

The G–O Rule and Waldmeier Effect in the Variations of the Numbers of Large and Small Sunspot Groups

We have analyzed the combined Greenwich and Solar Optical Observing Network (SOON) sunspot group data during the period of 1874 – 2011 and determined variations in the annual numbers (counts) of the small (maximum area A M<100 millionth of solar hemisphere, msh), large (100≤A M<300 msh), and big (A M≥300 msh) spot groups. We found that the amplitude of an even-numbered cycle of the number of large groups is smaller than that of its immediately following odd-numbered cycle. This is consistent with the well known Gnevyshev and Ohl rule (G–O rule) of solar cycles, generally described by using the Zurich sunspot number (R Z). During cycles 12 – 21 the G–O rule holds good for the variation in the number of small groups also, but it is violated by cycle pair (22, 23) as in the case of R Z. This behavior of the variations in the small groups is largely responsible for the anomalous behavior of R Z in cycle pair (22, 23). It is also found that the amplitude of an odd-numbered cycle of the number of small groups is larger than that of its immediately following even-numbered cycle. This might be called the ‘reverse G–O rule’. In the case of the number of the big groups, both cycle pairs (12, 13) and (22, 23) violated the G–O rule. In many cycles the positions of the peaks of the small, large, and big groups are different, and considerably differ with respect to the corresponding positions of the R Z peaks. In the case of cycle 23, the corresponding cycles of the small and large groups are largely symmetric/less asymmetric (the Waldmeier effect is weak/absent) with their maxima taking place two years later than that of R Z. The corresponding cycle of the big groups is more asymmetric (strong Waldmeier effect) with its maximum epoch taking place at the same time as that of R Z.

PRECURSOR OF SUNSPOT PENUMBRAL FORMATION DISCOVERED WITH HINODE SOLAR OPTICAL TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS

We present observations of a precursory signature that would be helpful for understanding the formation process of sunspot penumbrae. The Hinode Solar Optical Telescope successfully captured the entire evolution of a sunspot from the pore to a large well-developed sunspot with penumbra in an emerging flux region appeared in NOAA Active Region 11039. We found an annular zone (width 3"-5") surrounding the umbra (pore) in Ca II H images before the penumbra is formed around the umbra. The penumbra was developed as if to fill the annular zone. The annular zone shows weak magnetogram signals, meaning less magnetic flux or highly inclined fields there. Pre-existing ambient magnetic field islands were moved to be distributed at the outer edge of the annular zone and did not come into the zone. There is no strong systematic flow patterns in the zone, but we occasionally observed small magnetic flux patches streaming out. The observations indicate that the annular zone is different from sunspot moat flow region and that it represents the structure in the chromosphere. We conclude that the annular zone reflects the formation of a magnetic canopy overlying the region surrounding the umbra at the chromospheric level, much before the formation of the penumbra at the photospheric level. The magnetic field structure in the chromosphere needs to be considered in the formation process of the penumbrae.

Spectroscopic Coronal Observations During the Total Solar Eclipse of 11 July 2010

The flash spectra of the solar chromosphere and corona were measured with a slitless spectrograph before, after, and during the totality of the solar eclipse of 11 July 2010, at Easter Island, Chile. This eclipse took place at the beginning of Solar Cycle 24, after an extended minimum of solar activity. The spectra taken during the eclipse show a different intensity ratio of the red and green coronal lines compared with those taken during the total solar eclipse of 1 August 2008, which took place toward the end of Solar Cycle 23. The characteristic coronal emission line of forbidden Fe xiv (5303 Å) was observed on the east and west solar limbs in four areas relatively symmetrically located with respect to the solar rotation axis. Subtraction of the continuum flash-spectrum background led to the identification of several extremely weak emission lines, including forbidden Ca xv (5694 Å), which is normally detected only in regions of very high excitation, e.g., during flares or above large sunspots. The height of the chromosphere was measured spectrophotometrically, using spectral lines from light elements and compared with the equivalent height of the lower chromosphere measured using spectral lines from heavy elements.

SUCCESSIVE SOLAR ERUPTIONS TRIGGERED BY THE COLLISION OF TWO SMALL SUNSPOTS WITH OPPOSITE POLARITIES AND MOTIONAL DIRECTIONS

WepresentastudyofthetwosuccessiveM-classflaresassociatedwithtwocoronalmassejections(CMEs)triggered by the collision of two small sunspots with opposite magnetic polarities and motional directions in NOAA active region (AR) 10484 on 2003 October 22. From the evolution of this AR in the TRACE white-light images and 96 minute line-of-sight magnetograms observed by the Michelson Doppler Imager on board SOHO, a large sunspot and a small sunspot with negative polarity rotated clockwise about 33 ◦ and 18 ◦ , respectively, from the northeast of a quiescent sunspot with negative polarity to the southeast from 15:00 UT on October 21 to 16:24 UT on October 23. During the process of their motion, the small sunspot with negative polarity collided with the small sunspot with positive polarity and opposite motional direction. In the collision, this AR produced two successive M-class flares and CMEs according to the observations of GOES and the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph. By analyzing the magnetic fields at polarity inversion lines (PILs) between the two small sunspot, it is found that a sudden squeeze occurred near the onset of the two M-class flares and then recovered itself after the flares. We ruled out the emergence of the magnetic fields near the PIL. According to the brightenings in TRACE 1600 A and the hard X-ray sources of the RHESSI of two M-class flares, we found that the locations of the two flares are almost situated in the same location at the PIL between the two small sunspots. We suggest that the sudden squeeze between the opposite magnetic polarities is caused by the pressure of the collision of the two small sunspots and resulted in the magnetic reconnection. These results could contribute to understanding the mechanism of flares and CMEs.

ON MOLECULAR HYDROGEN FORMATION AND THE MAGNETOHYDROSTATIC EQUILIBRIUM OF SUNSPOTS

We have investigated the problem of sunspot magnetohydrostatic equilibrium with comprehensive IR sunspot magnetic field survey observations of the highly sensitive Fe I lines at 15650 \AA\ and nearby OH lines. We have found that some sunspots show isothermal increases in umbral magnetic field strength which cannot be explained by the simplified sunspot model with a single-component ideal gas atmosphere assumed in previous investigations. Large sunspots universally display non-linear increases in magnetic pressure over temperature, while small sunspots and pores display linear behavior. The formation of molecules provides a mechanism for isothermal concentration of the umbral magnetic field, and we propose that this may explain the observed rapid increase in umbral magnetic field strength relative to temperature. Existing multi-component sunspot atmospheric models predict that a significant amount of molecular hydrogen (H2) exists in the sunspot umbra. The formation of H2 can significantly alter the thermodynamic properties of the sunspot atmosphere and may play a significant role in sunspot evolution. In addition to the survey observations, we have performed detailed chemical equilibrium calculations with full consideration of radiative transfer effects to establish OH as a proxy for H2, and demonstrate that a significant population of H2 exists in the coolest regions of large sunspots.