Free access article

A&A 449, L1-L4 (2006)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200600013

Letter

Phase asynchrony of the north-south sunspot activity

N. V. Zolotova and D. I. Ponyavin

Institute of Physics, Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia
    e-mail: [ned;ponyavin]@geo.phys.spbu.ru

(Received 28 November 2005 / Accepted 24 January 2006)

Abstract
Aims.Northern and Southern sunspot activities demonstrate striking synchronous behavior during a solar cycle. But sometimes synchronization fails and the north-south asymmetry occurs. The problem is the origin of the north-south asymmetry and its quasi-regular oscillations.
Methods.We employed Cross-Recurrence Plot analysis to extract synchronization between the Northern and Southern sunspot activities.
Results.By using Cross-Recurrence Plot technique and extracting line of synchronization we found that the north-south sunspot asymmetry is due to phase asynchrony between Northern and Southern hemispheric activities.

Key words: recurrence plots -- sunspot areas -- north-south asymmetry -- synchronization

© ESO 2006

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