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The sun's magnetic sector structure

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Abstract

The synoptic appearance of solar magnetic sectors is studied using 454 sector boundaries observed at Earth during 1959–1973. The sectors are clearly visible in the photospheric magnetic field. Sector boundaries can be clearly identified as north-south running demarcation lines between regions of persistent magnetic polarity imbalances. These regions extend up to about 35 ° of latitude on both sides of the equator. They generally do not extend into the polar caps. The polar cap boundary can be identified as an east-west demarcation line marking the poleward limit of the sectors. The typical flux imbalance for a magnetic sector is about 4 × 1021 Mx.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Plasma Research, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, Calif., USA

    Leif Svalgaard, John M. Wilcox & Philip H. Scherrer

  2. Hale Observatories, 91101, Pasadena, Calif., USA

    Robert Howard

Authors
  1. Leif Svalgaard
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  2. John M. Wilcox
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  3. Philip H. Scherrer
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  4. Robert Howard
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Svalgaard, L., Wilcox, J.M., Scherrer, P.H. et al. The sun's magnetic sector structure. Sol Phys 45, 83–91 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152219

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152219

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