Prospects for predicting cycle 24

Choudhuri, Arnab Rai (2008) Prospects for predicting cycle 24. In: Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy, 29 (1-2). pp. 41-47.

Preview

PDF Prospects_for.pdf - Published Version Download (288kB)

Abstract

Although we have reliable data of solar polar fields only from the mid-1970s, it seems that the polar field at a minimum is well correlated with the next cycle, but the strength of the cycle is not correlated with the polar field produced at its end. We explain this by suggesting that the Babcock–Leighton mechanism of poloidal field generation from tilted active regions involves randomness, whereas the other aspects of the dynamo process are more ordered. To model actual cycles, we have to 'correct' our theoretical dynamo model by 'feeding' information about the polar field at the minima. Following this process, we find that our model fits the observed sunspot numbers of cycles 21–23 reasonably well and predicts that cycle 24 will be the weakest in a century.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy
Publisher:	Indian Academy of Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:	Sun: magnetic field;solar cycle;MHD.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	31 Oct 2008 10:44
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:51
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/16219

Actions (login required)

View Item