Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25

The hemispheric asymmetry of solar activity provides important diagnostics of solar dynamo processes. In this study, we present a phase-resolved statistical analysis of hemispheric sunspot number asymmetry over solar cycles 17–25 (1939–2024), using monthly mean data from the National Astronomical Ob...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenhua Wang, Linhua Deng, Zuo Jiang, Jinlei Li, Xinhua Zhao, Tingting Xu, Miao Wan, Jie Cao, Nanbin Xiang, Xuewen Tan, Wei Zhou, Weihong Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/adf105
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849230928670359552
author Wenhua Wang
Linhua Deng
Zuo Jiang
Jinlei Li
Xinhua Zhao
Tingting Xu
Miao Wan
Jie Cao
Nanbin Xiang
Xuewen Tan
Wei Zhou
Weihong Zhou
author_facet Wenhua Wang
Linhua Deng
Zuo Jiang
Jinlei Li
Xinhua Zhao
Tingting Xu
Miao Wan
Jie Cao
Nanbin Xiang
Xuewen Tan
Wei Zhou
Weihong Zhou
author_sort Wenhua Wang
collection DOAJ
description The hemispheric asymmetry of solar activity provides important diagnostics of solar dynamo processes. In this study, we present a phase-resolved statistical analysis of hemispheric sunspot number asymmetry over solar cycles 17–25 (1939–2024), using monthly mean data from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. By combining normalized asymmetry indices, cumulative deviation tracking, and year-by-year significance testing, we identify four key results: (1) the northern hemisphere consistently dominates during the ascending phases of most cycles, suggesting a preferential emergence of magnetic flux at the northern hemisphere; (2) the hemispheric asymmetry significantly diminishes during polarity reversal periods, indicating a balancing effect of global magnetic reconfiguration; (3) solar cycles 23 and 25 exhibit remarkably similar asymmetry patterns, implying solar cycle 25 is likely to be similar to solar cycle 23; and (4) the strength of hemispheric dominance correlates with the overall solar activity level, with stronger asymmetries observed during high-activity phases and weaker signals near solar minima. These findings offer new observational constraints for modeling hemispheric solar dynamics and establish a reproducible, scalable framework for future investigations of long-term solar magnetic asymmetries.
format Article
id doaj-art-5668d307e766413e8e8c6c23e1f8afea
institution Kabale University
issn 0067-0049
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IOP Publishing
record_format Article
series The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
spelling doaj-art-5668d307e766413e8e8c6c23e1f8afea2025-08-21T05:49:28ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series0067-00492025-01-0128012010.3847/1538-4365/adf105Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25Wenhua Wang0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0764-1508Linhua Deng1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-8320Zuo Jiang2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1531-5592Jinlei Li3https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9563-293XXinhua Zhao4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-2646Tingting Xu5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9997-9524Miao Wan6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8865-1497Jie Cao7https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7057-8084Nanbin Xiang8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9062-7453Xuewen Tan9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4710-2325Wei Zhou10https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4190-2312Weihong Zhou11https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2287-6441School of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geosciences , Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Solar Activity and Space Weather , National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Solar Activity and Space Weather, National Space Science Center , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Solar Activity and Space Weather , National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People’s Republic of China; Radio Science and Technology Center (π Center) , Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnYunnan Observatories , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650216, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnSchool of Mathematics and Computer Science, Yunnan Minzu University , Kunming 650504, People’s Republic of China ; linhua.deng@ymu.edu.cnThe hemispheric asymmetry of solar activity provides important diagnostics of solar dynamo processes. In this study, we present a phase-resolved statistical analysis of hemispheric sunspot number asymmetry over solar cycles 17–25 (1939–2024), using monthly mean data from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. By combining normalized asymmetry indices, cumulative deviation tracking, and year-by-year significance testing, we identify four key results: (1) the northern hemisphere consistently dominates during the ascending phases of most cycles, suggesting a preferential emergence of magnetic flux at the northern hemisphere; (2) the hemispheric asymmetry significantly diminishes during polarity reversal periods, indicating a balancing effect of global magnetic reconfiguration; (3) solar cycles 23 and 25 exhibit remarkably similar asymmetry patterns, implying solar cycle 25 is likely to be similar to solar cycle 23; and (4) the strength of hemispheric dominance correlates with the overall solar activity level, with stronger asymmetries observed during high-activity phases and weaker signals near solar minima. These findings offer new observational constraints for modeling hemispheric solar dynamics and establish a reproducible, scalable framework for future investigations of long-term solar magnetic asymmetries.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/adf105Sunspot numberSolar cycleSolar magnetic fields
spellingShingle Wenhua Wang
Linhua Deng
Zuo Jiang
Jinlei Li
Xinhua Zhao
Tingting Xu
Miao Wan
Jie Cao
Nanbin Xiang
Xuewen Tan
Wei Zhou
Weihong Zhou
Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Sunspot number
Solar cycle
Solar magnetic fields
title Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
title_full Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
title_fullStr Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
title_full_unstemmed Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
title_short Hemispheric Asymmetry of Relative Sunspot Numbers during Solar Cycles 17–25
title_sort hemispheric asymmetry of relative sunspot numbers during solar cycles 17 25
topic Sunspot number
Solar cycle
Solar magnetic fields
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/adf105
work_keys_str_mv AT wenhuawang hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT linhuadeng hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT zuojiang hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT jinleili hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT xinhuazhao hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT tingtingxu hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT miaowan hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT jiecao hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT nanbinxiang hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT xuewentan hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT weizhou hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725
AT weihongzhou hemisphericasymmetryofrelativesunspotnumbersduringsolarcycles1725