Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Evolving Synoptic Magnetic Flux map and Implications for the Distribution of Photospheric Magnetic Flux

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We describe a procedure intended to produce accurate daily estimates of the magnetic flux distribution on the entire solar surface. Models of differential rotation, meridional flow, supergranulation, and the random emergence of background flux elements are used to regularly update unobserved or poorly observed portions of an initial traditional magnetic synoptic map that acts as a seed. Fresh observations replace model estimates when available. Application of these surface magnetic transport models gives us new insight into the distribution and evolution of magnetic flux on the Sun, especially at the poles where canopy effects, limited spatial resolution, and foreshortening result in poor measurements. We find that meridional circulation has a considerable effect on the distribution of polar magnetic fields. We present a modeled polar field distribution as well as time series of the difference between the northern and southern polar magnetic flux; this flux imbalance is related to the heliospheric current sheet tilt. We also estimate that the amount of new background magnetic flux needed to sustain the `quiet-Sun' magnetic field is about 1.1×1023 Mx d−1 (equivalent to several large active regions) at the spatial resolution and epoch of our maps. We comment on the diffusive properties of supergranules, ephemeral regions, and intranetwork flux. The maps are available on the NSO World Wide Web page.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altschuler, M. D. and Newkirk, G.: 1969, Solar Phys. 9, 131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altschuler, M. D., Levine, R. H., Stix, M., and Harvey, J.: 1977, Solar Phys. 51, 345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arge, C. N. and Pizzo, V.: 2000, J. Geophys. Res., submitted.

  • Babcock, H. W.: 1961, Astrophys. J. 133, 572.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berrilli, F., Florio, A., and Ermolli, I.: 1998, Solar Phys. 180, 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bumba, V. and Howard, R. F.: 1965, Astrophys. J. 141, 1502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Y., Wang, J., and Harvey, J.: 1999, Solar Phys. 186, 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, W. C., Barraclough, B. L., Phillips, J. L., and Y.-M. Wang, 1996: Astron. Astrophys. 316, 355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagenaar, H. J., Schrijver, C. J., and Title, A. M.: 1997, Astrophys. J. 481, 988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, J. W.: 1995, Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 27, 952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, K. L. and Martin, S. F.: 1973, Solar Phys. 32, 389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, J. and Worden, J.: 1998, in K. S. Balasubramaniam, J. Harvey, and D. Rabin (eds), Synoptic Solar Physics, ASP Conf. Ser. 140, 161.

  • Harvey, J. and Worden, J.: 2000, in preparation.

  • Harvey, J., Gillespie, B., Meidaner, P., and Slaughter, C.: 1980, World Data Center A Report UAG-77.

  • Hathaway, D. H.: 1996, Astrophy. J. 460, 1033.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. F.: 1996, Solar Phys. 169, 293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R., Bumba, V., and Smith, S. F.: 1967, Carnegie Institute of Washington Publication 626.

  • Howard, R. F., Harvey, J. W., and Forgach, S.: 1990, Solar Phys. 130, 295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janssens, T. J.: 1970, Solar Phys. 11, 222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jao, L., McClymont, A. N., and Mikic, Z.: 1997, Solar Phys. 174, 311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokipii, J. R., Kota, J., and Smith, E. J.: 1998, EOS 79, S276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kambry, M. A., Nishikawa, J., Sakurai, T., Ichimoto, K., and Hiei, E.: 1991, Solar Phys. 132, 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komm, R. W., Howard, R. F., and Harvey, J. W.: 1993, Solar Phys. 147, 207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kress, J. M. and Wilson, P. R.: 1999, Solar Phys. 189, 147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leighton, R.: 1964, Astrophys. J. 140, 1547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leighton, R.: 1969, Astrophys. J. 156, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leighton, R., Noyes, R., and Simon, G.: 1962, Astrophys. J. 135, 474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, R. H., Altschuler, M. D., and Harvey, J. W.: 1977, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 1061.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, W. C. and Harvey, J. W.: 1975, Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 7, 346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, W., Harvey, J., and Slaughter, C.: 1970, Nature 226, 1146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, K. A.: 1978, Solar Phys. 59, 105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. F.: 1988, Solar Phys. 117, 243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikic, Z., Linker, J. A., and Colborn, J. A.:1996, Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc. 28, 868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosher, J. M.: 1977, Ph.D. Thesis, California Institute of Technology.

  • Parker, E. N.: 1997, Solar Phys. 176, 219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrovay, K. and Szakaly, G.: 1993, Astron. Astrophys. 274, 543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schatten, K. H., Wilcox, J. M., and Ness, N. F.: 1969, Solar Phys. 9, 442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver, C. J.: 1989, Solar Phys. 122, 193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver, C. J.: 2000, Astrophys. J., submitted.

  • Schrijver, C. J. and Harvey, K. L.: 1989, Astrophys. J. 343, 181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver, C. J., Hagenaar, H. J., and Title, A. M.: 1997, Astrophys. J. 475, 328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver, C. J., Title, A.M., van Ballegooijen, A. A., Hagenaar, H. J., and Shine, R.: 1997, Astrophys. J. 487, 424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrijver, C. J., Title, A. M., Harvey, K. L., Sheeley, N. R. Jr., Wang, Y.-M., van den Oord, G. H. J., Shine, R. A., Tarbell, T. D., and Hurlburt, N. E.: 1998, Nature 394, 152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheeley, N. R. Jr., DeVore, C. R., and Boris, J. P.: 1985, Solar Phys. 98, 219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheeley, N. R. Jr., Wang, Y.-M., and DeVore, C. R.: 1989, Solar Phys. 124, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, G. W. and Leighton, R. B.: 1964, Astrophys. J. 140, 1120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, G. W., Title, A. M., and Weiss, N. O.: 1995, Astrophys. J. 442, 886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, J. A., Zhang, M., and Bame, S.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 465, L69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J. and Bappu, M. K.: 1981, Solar Phys. 71, 161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J., Nagabhushana, B. S., Babu, G. S. D, Uddin, W.: 1994, Solar Phys. 153, 157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. J., Lepping, R. P., Szabo, A., Jokipii, J. R., and Kota, J.: 1998, EOS 79, S276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snodgrass, H. B.: 1983, Astrophys. J. 270, 288.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Ballegooijen, A. A., Cartledge, N. P., and Priest, E. R.: 1998, Astrophys. J. 501, 866.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H. and Zirin, H.: 1989, Solar Phys. 120, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Wang, H., Tang, F., Lee, J. W., and Zirin, H.: 1995, Solar Phys. 160, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M. and Sheeley, N. R. Jr.: 1990, Astrophys. J. 365, 372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M. and Sheeley, N. R. Jr.: 1991, Astrophys. J. 375, 761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M. and Sheeley, N. R. Jr.: 1994, Astrophys. J. 430, 399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-M, Sheeley, N. R., Jr., and Nash, A. G.: 1991, Astrophys. J. 383, 431.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Solar Observatory, USA

    John Worden & John Harvey

  2. National Optical Astronomy Observatories, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, AZ , 85726, U.S.A.

    John Worden & John Harvey

Authors
  1. John Worden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Harvey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Worden, J., Harvey, J. An Evolving Synoptic Magnetic Flux map and Implications for the Distribution of Photospheric Magnetic Flux. Solar Physics 195, 247–268 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005272502885

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005272502885

Keywords

Search

Navigation