Physics
Scientific paper
Apr 1976
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976soph...47..475d&link_type=abstract
Solar Physics, vol. 47, Apr. 1976, p. 475-515.
Physics
29
Photosphere, Solar Oblateness, Solar Rotation, Surface Distortion, Error Analysis, Least Squares Method, Periodic Variations, Power Spectra, Signal Analysis, Statistical Analysis
Scientific paper
Most of the day-to-day fluctuation in solar oblateness observations is well described as the signal due to a 10-km distortion of the solar photosphere rotating rigidly with a period of about 12.22 days (sidereal). This 'solar-rotator' signal is well-defined by observations and seems clearly significant statistically. Owing to the apparent precession of the solar spin-axis on the sky, the signal is not strictly periodic and has a wave form that evolves with time in a predictable way. The enigmatic periodicity of the oblateness residuals is eliminated when the solar-rotator signal is subtracted. The residual errors are then found to be normally distributed and uncorrelated. Including the solar-rotator signal in the least-square fit increases the implied static oblateness by 16% to approximately 45.8 millisec (equatorial excess radius). Both the static oblateness signal and the solar-rotator signal might be interpreted phenomenonologically as 'brightness' signals due to a rigidly rotating nonuniform distribution of temperature in the upper photosphere. However, such a descripion encounters physical difficulties when the requirements of energy and momentum balance are considered. Including the excess static oblateness yields a distortion in the form of an ellipsoid whose major axis is tilted 85 deg from the solar axis. Possible conflicts with other recent observations are discussed.
No associations
LandOfFree
Evidence for a solar distortion rotating with a period of 12.2 days does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Evidence for a solar distortion rotating with a period of 12.2 days, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Evidence for a solar distortion rotating with a period of 12.2 days will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1614923