A semi-automated method to reveal the evolution of each sunspot group in a solar cycle. (arXiv:1811.12648v1 [astro-ph.IM])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Cakmak_H/0/1/0/all/0/1">Hikmet Çakmak</a>
Sunspots are the most important indicator of the magnetic activity on the
solar surface during a cycle. Every sunspot group is formed and shaped by the
magnetic field of the Sun. Hence, the magnetic field intensity shows itself as
the size of a sunspot group area on the surface. This shows that getting the
development or evolution of sunspot groups over time means getting the change
of magnetic field intensity during same interval. Here, to reveal the evolution
of sunspot groups in a cycle, a method called Solar Cycle Analyzer Tool (SCAT)
is presented. This method was developed as a part of Computer-Aided
Measurements for Sunspots (CAMS) because the same subroutines and subprograms
were used for calculations (Cakmak 2014). The developed software tracks sunspot
groups every day and gives them the same group number. The confirmation is made
by the user to prevent counting re-formations as a continuation of an old group
in the same active region. With this method, the evolution of every sunspot
group can be listed for each cycle year besides other cycle features like the
daily and monthly sunspot relative numbers and distribution frequency of the
sunspot group types. Since 2015, SCAT is being used to get data for the annual
reports of Istanbul University Observatory.
Sunspots are the most important indicator of the magnetic activity on the
solar surface during a cycle. Every sunspot group is formed and shaped by the
magnetic field of the Sun. Hence, the magnetic field intensity shows itself as
the size of a sunspot group area on the surface. This shows that getting the
development or evolution of sunspot groups over time means getting the change
of magnetic field intensity during same interval. Here, to reveal the evolution
of sunspot groups in a cycle, a method called Solar Cycle Analyzer Tool (SCAT)
is presented. This method was developed as a part of Computer-Aided
Measurements for Sunspots (CAMS) because the same subroutines and subprograms
were used for calculations (Cakmak 2014). The developed software tracks sunspot
groups every day and gives them the same group number. The confirmation is made
by the user to prevent counting re-formations as a continuation of an old group
in the same active region. With this method, the evolution of every sunspot
group can be listed for each cycle year besides other cycle features like the
daily and monthly sunspot relative numbers and distribution frequency of the
sunspot group types. Since 2015, SCAT is being used to get data for the annual
reports of Istanbul University Observatory.
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