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Detection of Emerging Sunspot Regions - 18 August 2011


The first clear detection of emerging sunspot regions prior to any indication of the region in magnetograms was published in Science on 19 August 2011.

Link to paper at http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6045/993.full

Sunspots, dark features in the solar photosphere with strong magnetic field, have been observed for more than 400 years. They are the most visible components of regions where solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occur, and these eruptive events may cause power outages and interruptions of telecommunication and navigation services on the Earth. Although it is widely believed that sunspot regions are generated in the deep solar interior, the emergence of these regions through the convection zone to the photosphere has remained undetected until now.

Stanford scientists report today the detection of several sunspot regions in the deep interior of the Sun, 1-2 days before they appear on the solar disc. Their results show that sunspots are generated at least 60,000 km below the surface and emerge from this depth up to the surface with an average speed of 0.3-0.6 km/s. The detection of sunspots in the solar interior may provide useful warnings about upcoming surface magnetic activity which can be used to improve and extend the predictions of space weather forecast. The technique that they used to detect the sunspots is called time-distance helioseismology , and it is similar to a technique used by seismologists to image the Earth's interior.

The results are reported by Stathis Ilonidis, Junwei Zhao, and Alexander Kosovichev in the paper "Detection of Emerging Sunspot Regions in the Solar Interior" published in the August 19 issue of Science Magazine (vol. 333, pp. 993-996, 2011).


Still Images

Acoustic travel-time perturbations detected at a depth of about 60,000 km (left) and simultaneous observations of the photospheric intensity (middle) and magnetic field (right). The images of the upper row were taken at about 03:30 UT 26 October 2003 and those of the lower row about 2 days later. Click on the image for full resolution.
Images of surface and subsurface magnetic activity of active region 10488. The upper layer shows the photospheric magnetic field, and the lower layer shows the acoustic travel-time perturbations detected at a depth of about 60,000 km. The upper image was taken at about 03:30 UT 26 October 2003 and the lower image about 2 days later. Click on the image for full resolution.
Images of surface and subsurface magnetic activity of active region 11158. The upper layer shows the photospheric intensity, and the lower layer shows the acoustic travel-time perturbations detected at a depth of about 60,000 km. The upper image was taken at about 03:30 UT 11 February 2011 and the lower image about 2 days later. Click on the image for full resolution.
A full disk image of the Sun showing a few sunspot groups in the photosphere, observed by SOHO/MDI after AR10488 emergence.
A full disk image of the Sun showing the sunspot group in AR11158 after emergence, observed by SDO/HMI.
Acoustic ray paths with lower turning points between 42 and 75 Mm crossing a region of emerging flux.
Schematic representation of the measurement scheme. The oscillation signal is averaged inside each arc and cross-correlations are computed between arcs of the same color. For simplicity only arcs with size of 45 degrees and one specific orientation are shown here.

Movies

Movie showing the detected travel-time perturbations before the emergence of active region 10488 in the photosphere. The first 10 seconds of the movie show intensity observations of the Sun. The intensity later fades out and the photospheric magnetic field is shown. In the next 20 seconds, we zoom in to a region where a sunspot group would emerge. The upper layer shows magnetic field observations at the surface and the lower layer shows simultaneous travel-time perturbations, detected at a depth of about 60,000 km. After the emergence, intensity observations show the full development of this active region, until it rotates out of view on the west solar limb. (movie made by Thomas Hartlep)
Movie showing the detected travel-time perturbations during the emergence of active region 11158. The first 12 seconds of the movie show photospheric intensity observations (orange color) of the region, and travel-time perturbations detected at a depth of about 60,000 km (blue-red color). The movie then shows sunspots (blue and orange) on the solar surface and coronal loops (light green) observed by SDO/AIA. (movie made by Thomas Hartlep and Scott Winegarden).

Links to Some Published Stories

News Story Title News Media Public link
______________________ _____________ ________________________________________________
New method detects emerging sunspots deep inside the sun Stanford Report

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2011/august/sunspot-081911.html

Sunspot Breakthrough NASA Science News

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/25aug_sunspotbreakthrough/

Breakthrough to refine space weather predictions CBS News

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/18/scitech/main20094215.shtml

Sunspots used to improve solar storm warnings MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44193066/ns/technology_and_science-space/

Scientists find way to predict sunspots San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/18/BAER1KNIRO.DTL&tsp=1

Sun's singing helps researchers predict sunspots San Jose Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18711817

Listening to the sun may improve space weather forecasts Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-sunspots-20110820,0,3534506.story?track=rss

Sun storms 'could be more disruptive within decades' BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14580995

Better method for predicting sunspots: study AFP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jvRF-VY6u7Fhho4rfZlqAPc6VAkQ?docId=CNG.dcab6193eef5f4595d1650639bddef99.9a1

Solar Blares: Listening to the Sun May Improve Space Weather Forecasts Scientific American

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=sunspot-early-detection

Sunspots Can Now Be Predicted Days in Advance National Geographic

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110818-sun-solar-storms-sunspots-predict-sound-waves-space-science/

Sunspots rising Science News

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/333515/title/News_in_Brief_Atom_%2B_Cosmos

New method detects emerging sunspots deep inside the Sun Astronomy Magazine

http://www.astronomy.com/~/link.aspx?_id=f9156891-90b2-4bf7-bcb4-bbcacdbac87b

Spotting Sun-Spots May Improve Solar Storm Warnings Fox News

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/19/spotting-sun-spots-may-improve-solar-storm-warnings/

Sunspot-Spotting Method May Improve Solar Storm Warnings Yahoo News

http://news.yahoo.com/sunspot-spotting-method-may-improve-solar-storm-warnings-180601693.html

Scientists Now Able to Predict Sunspots Days Before Solar Eruptions International Business Times

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/201194/20110821/sunspots-scientists-now-able-to-predict-days-before-solar-eruptions.htm

New way to predict space weather ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/08/19/3296797.htm

Sunspot-Spotting Method May Improve Solar Storm Warnings space.com

http://www.space.com/12668-sunspot-prediction-solar-storms-warning.html

Better method for predicting sunspots: study physorg.com

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-08-method-sunspots.html

Early-warning system for sunspots physicsworld.com

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/46914

Solar storms: Two breakthroughs could lead to better warnings The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0819/Solar-storms-Two-breakthroughs-could-lead-to-better-warnings

New method can predict sunspots menafn.com

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid={212fc3e5-a5fb-44c7-aa72-4c115b9fb6ef}

Predicting sunspots: better space weather ahead cosmos magazine

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/4644/better-way-detecting-sunspots

Better sunspot forecasts on the way The Register

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/19/sunspot_forecasts/

Better method for predicting sunspots: study The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/better-method-for-predicting-sunspots-study-2341452.html

Sun Spot Examination Key To Forecasting Solar Eruptions Irish Weather Online

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/space/solar/sun-spot-examination-key-to-forecasting-solar-eruptions/32845.html

Sunspot tracking could protect interruptions to telecommunications and power caused by solar flares The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/sunspot-tracking-could-protect-interruptions-to-telecommunications-and-power-caused-by-solar-flares/story-e6frg8y6-1226117966636

Sunspot tracking could provide 2 days' advance warning of damaging solar flare DailyIndia.com

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/456744.php

New method could provide early warning of dangerous solar flares spacedaily.com

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/New_method_could_provide_early_warning_of_dangerous_solar_flares_999.html

Sunspot prediction method improved news24

http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Sunspot-prediction-method-improved-20110818

Scientists Detect Sunspots Before They Emerge Universe Today

http://www.universetoday.com/88380/scientists-detect-sunspots-before-they-emerge/

New method can predict sunspots UPI.com

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/08/19/New-method-can-predict-sunspots/UPI-94591313793898/?spt=hs&or=sn

Sunspots Can Now Be Predicted Days in Advance EmDiv

http://emdiv.com.br/pt/mundo/geografia/34304-sunspots-can-now-be-predicted-days-in-advance.html

Researchers Announce Breakthrough In Predicting Sunspots RedOrbit

http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/2602076/researchers-announce-breakthrough-in-predicting-sunspots/index.html

Stanford Researchers Use Acoustic Waves to Predict Sunspots TV Technology

http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/123846

Method detects emerging sunspots deep inside the sun R&D Magazine

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2011/08/General-Science-Space-Method-Detects-Emerging-Sunspots-Deep-Inside-The-Sun/

Scientists Discover Way to Predict Sunspots newser

http://www.newser.com/story/126310/scientists-discover-way-to-predict-sunspots.html

L'activité du Soleil bientôt prévisible 48 h à l'avance Le Figaro

http://www.lefigaro.fr/sciences/2011/08/23/01008-20110823ARTFIG00639-l-activite-du-soleil-bientot-previsible-deux-jours-avant.php

Prédire les taches solaires Pour la Science

http://www.pourlascience.fr/ewb_pages/a/actualite-predire-les-taches-solaires-27886.php

太陽黒点の出現、数日前から予測可能に National Geographic (Japan)

http://www.nationalgeographic.co.jp/news/news_article.php?file_id=20110819002&expand&source=gnews

Астрономы научились предсказывать появление солнечных пятен РИА Новости

http://www.ria.ru/science/20110818/419717188.html

Forscher können Sonnenstürme präzise vorhersagen Spiegel Online

http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/0,1518,781183,00.html


Contact and credit information:

Suggested image credit for data from SOHO/MDI: The SOHO/MDI Team, SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA

Suggested image credit for data from SDO/HMI: Courtesy of NASA/SDO and the HMI science teams.

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