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HELIOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF SUNSPOTS, 1988-1999

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Raymond R. Thompson

Maple Observatory

7 Welton Street

Maple, Ontario L6A 1R8

Canada

Presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the AAVSO, October 30, 1999; revised October 2000

Abstract

The heliographic latitude and longitude of 1338 penumbral sunspots observed by the author during cycle 22 were plotted on a Mercator-style map of the solar surface in order to study their distribution. Scarcity of spots along the equator and in high latitudes was evident, as were dense clumps and spot-free areas elsewhere. Analysis suggests that the sunspot distribution may not be completely random, but may be somewhat related to photosphere dynamics and interior convective processes.

Link to ADS abstract, article and citation information