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The Debrecen Photoheliographic Data catalogue is a continuation of the Greenwich Photoheliographic Results providing daily positions of sunspots and sunspot groups. We analyse the data for sunspot groups focusing on meridional motions and transfer of angular momentum towards the solar equator. Velocities are calculated with a daily shift method including an automatic iterative process of removing the outliers. Apart from the standard differential rotation profile, we find meridional motion directed towards the zone of solar activity. The difference in measured meridional flow in comparison to Doppler measurements and some other tracer measurements is interpreted as a consequence of different flow patterns inside and outside of active regions. We also find a statistically significant dependence of meridional motion on rotation velocity residuals confirming the transfer of angular momentum towards the equator. Analysis of horizontal Reynolds stress reveals that the transfer of angular momentum is stronger with increasing latitude up to about 40$^{\circ}$ where there is a possible maximum in absolute value., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures

Context. Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research (KSO) provides daily multispectral synoptic observations of the Sun using several telescopes. In this work we made use of sunspot drawings and full disk white light CCD images. Aims. The main aim of this work is to determine the solar differential rotation by tracing sunspot groups during the period 1964–2016, using the KSO sunspot drawings and white light images. We also compare the differential rotation parameters derived in this paper from the KSO with those collected from other data sets and present an investigation of the north – south rotational asymmetry. Methods. Two procedures for the determination of the heliographic positions were applied: an interactive procedure on the KSO sunspot drawings (1964–2008, solar cycles Nos. 20–23) and an automatic procedure on the KSO white light images (2009–2016, solar cycle No. 24). For the determination of the synodic angular rotation velocities two different methods have been used: a daily shift (DS) method and a robust linear least- squares fit (rLSQ) method. Afterwards, the rotation velocities had to be converted from synodic to sidereal, which were then used in the least-squares fitting for the solar differential rotation law. A comparison of the interactive and automatic procedures was performed for the year 2014. Results. The interactive procedure of position determination is fairly accurate but time consuming. In the case of the much faster automatic procedure for position determination, we found the rLSQ method for calculating rotational velocities to be more reliable than the DS method. For the test data from 2014, the rLSQ method gives a relative standard error for the differential rotation parameter B that is three times smaller than the corresponding relative standard error derived for the DS method. The best fit solar differential rotation profile for the whole time period is omega(b) = (14.47+-0.01) - (2.66 +- 0.10) sin^2(b) (deg/day) for the DS method and omega(b) = (14.50 +- 0.01) - (2.87 +- 0.12) sin^2(b) (deg/day) for the rLSQ method. A barely noticeable north – south asymmetry is observed for the whole time period 1964–2016 in the present paper. Rotation profiles, using different data sets, presented by other authors for the same time periods and the same tracer types, are in good agreement with our results. Conclusions. The KSO data set used in this paper is in good agreement with the Debrecen Photoheliographic Data and Greenwich Photoheliographic Results and is suitable for the investigation of the long-term variabilities in the solar rotation profile. Also, the quality of the KSO sunspot drawings has gradually increased during the last 50 yr.

By using slit observations of solar photospheric lines shifted by 0.4 arcsec, a 2D field on the Sun was scanned to obtain a 16-minute time series of 2D line-parameter variations. The aim was to investigate in detail the occurrence of turbulence that can be measured by line-width variations extracted from the line profiles. The continuum-intensity variation served as a proxy for granular (bright) and intergranular (dark) areas. The results show that turbulence is not limited to the intergranular space but is also produced by horizontal motions that may become supersonic, leading to turbulence. These motions lead to brightenings, as predicted by theoretical models. Thus, enhanced line-width variations are found to occur in both bright and dark areas. A Sobel filter served to detect the areas where strong gradients in the line parameters occur. By applying this filter to the different line-parameter variations over the 2D field observed, we can determine whether there exists a similarity of these strong-gradient patterns with other parameters that characterize granular motions such as intensity variations or velocity fluctuations.

Various observations indicate that coronal holes generally appear as low brightness temperature regions (LTRs) in the centimeter and millimeter wavelength ranges. However, within their borders local enhancements of radiation, that is, high brightness temperature regions (HTRs), often occur. The theory behind the described behavior is not fully understood and therefore we analyze full-disk solar images obtained at a wavelength of 8 mm at Metsahovi Radio Observatory and compare them with data simultaneously taken in other wavelength ranges. The observational finding that the average brightness temperature of coronal holes is not much different from the quiet-Sun level (with localized deviations toward higher and lower intensities on the order of a few percent) is compared with theoretical models of the thermal bremsstrahlung radiation originating in the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. Special attention is devoted to the interpretation of the localized enhancements of radiation observed inside coronal holes at millimeter wavelengths. The main conclusion is that the most important contribution to the brightness temperature comes from an increased density in the transition region and low corona (i.e., at the heights where the temperature is below 106 K). This can explain both the LTRs and HTRs associated with coronal holes.

We aim to determine average radial stratifications of various physical parameters throughout the solar photosphere at high angular resolution for non-magnetic and magnetic areas and to compare these with standard semiempirical 1D modeling and with 3D hydrodynamics (HD) and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations. Methods. We analyse a 15-min sequence of adaptive-optics spectrograms of very high angular resolution taken at solar disk centre. We split the data between a quiet area and a magnetic one and derive mean temperature and velocity stratifications and fluctuations for these separately by applying LTE inversion based on response functions. Results. The mean temperature stratifications in the non-magnetic region agree well with the classical 1D models and the 3D simulations at all heights. However, the observed rms temperature is much lower than in the simulations, the observed mean velocities indicate more upflows, and the observed velocity fluctuations are smaller except in upper layers. Some of the discrepancies are likely to result from remaining smearing by atmospheric seeing and instrumental limitations. The magnetic area shows conspicuous behaviour at large height. We also find evidence of fast low-photosphere downflows in the magnetic area and of enhanced temperature above a small pore.

The extended Greenwich data set consisting of positions of sunspot groups is used for the investigation of cycle-related variations of the solar rotation in the years 1874– 1981. Applying the residual method, which yields a single number for each year describing the average deviation from the mean value of the solar rotation, the dependence of the rotation velocity residual on the phase of the solar cycle is investigated. A secular deceleration of the solar rotation was found: the slope being statistically significant at the 3σ level. Periods of 33, 22, 11, 5.2, and 3.5 years can be identified in the power spectra. The rotation velocity residuals were averaged for all years with the same solar cycle phase relative to the nearest preceding sunspot minimum. The variation pattern reveals a higher than average rotation velocity in the minimum of activity and, to a lesser extent, also around the maximum of activity. The analysis was repeated with several changes in the reduction method, such as elimination of the secular trend, application of statistical weights, different cutoffs of the central meridian distance, division of the latitude into subregions and treating data from the years of activity minima separately. The results obtained are compared with those from the literature, and an interpretation of the observed phenomena is proposed.

Time series of 1D spectrograms are used to study the influence of the 5-min oscillations on intensity and velocity fields of different layers of the quiet solar photosphere. We study the continuum intensity field along with intensity and corresponding velocity patterns of the mid and upper photosphere, obtained from two Fe lines. Oscillations seem to dominate the intensity and velocity fields of the higher atmospheric layers. Our results confirm the fast decay of the granular intensity structure with height. From correlations of temperature structures at three different photospheric levels we conclude that there are rapid changes of the structures in the lower photosphere, which are valid for the duration of the time series, while for the upper levels changes of the stuctures are fainter and show significant periodic character. The velocity pattern, on the other hand, shows a periodic propagation through the photosphere. The tests of the influence of seeing conditions on the data are considered.

Full-disc full-resolution (FDFR) solar images obtained with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) were used to analyse the centre-to-limb function and latitudinal distribution of coronal bright points. The results obtained with the interactive and the automatic method, as well as for three subtypes of coronal bright points for the time period 4 June 1998 to 22 May 1999 are presented and compared. An indication of a two-component latitudinal distribution of coronal bright points was found. The central latitude of coronal bright points traced with the interactive method lies between 10∘ and 20∘. This is closer to the equator than the average latitude of sunspots in the same period. Possible implications for the interpretation of the solar differential rotation are discussed. In the appendix, possible differences between the two solar hemispheres are analysed. More coronal bright points were present in the southern solar hemisphere than in the northern one. This asymmetry is statistically significant for the interactive method and not for the automatic method. The visibility function is symmetrical around the central meridian.

Meridional motions and differential rotation of stable recurrent sunspot groups from the Greenwich data set are investigated. Simple and complex, as well as younger and older sunspot groups are treated separately. There is no difference in behavior of the meridional motions for the simple and complex sunspot groups, while complex groups rotate faster than the simple ones. If we attribute the differences of rotational velocities to the errors in position determination, it can be concluded that the rotational velocities determined by using sunspot groups as tracers are slightly overestimated. Both the meridional motions and differential rotation show the same dependence on the age, when simple and complex recurrent sunspot groups are considered.

The extent of the exosphere of Mercury above the planet's limb could for the first time be observed by detecting an excess absorption in the solar sodium line D 2 during the transit of Mercury across the solar disk on 2003 May 7. The observations were performed with a 2d Fabry-Perot spectrograph of the Vacuum Tower Telescope at Izana, Tenerife. The absorption excess, blue-shifted by 13 pm relative to the solar line, is mainly concentrated near the polar regions. There, the absorption excess can be traced up to ≈ 700 km above the limb. Between the two polar regions, along the eastern limb, a weaker absorption excess can be seen. A possible streamer-like feature stretches more than 2000 km above the northern region. Assuming the density to decrease exponentially with height, we derive for the polar maxima vertical column densities of 3 $\times$ $10^{10}~{\rm cm}^{-2}$, volume densities at the surface of 2.5 $\times$ $10^3~{\rm cm}^{-3}$, and a density scale height of 150 km.

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of the solar granulation by analyzing time series of 2D spatially highly resolved spectrograms. These were obtained by spatial scans covering a field of 12 8″ × 20″. The advantage of this method is a high spectral resolution, however, the data are not taken simultaneously and to cover the field described above 50 exposures taken sequentially in time are necessary. Therefore, to obtain one map about 2 minutes are required. Plots of the evolution of different line parameters are given as well as the decay of correlation functions. The correlations between the first map of line parameters and successive maps (which are separated by about 2 minutes) were investigated showing a rapid decay down to a correlation coefficient of 0.4 within 4 minutes, the velocity pattern in the field observed varies on smaller time scales. The temporal variation of correlation between the line parameters for the different lines shows a periodic signal related to 5-min oscillations which could not be totally filtered. The evolution of the correlation functions between line parameters is analyzed which gives an error estimate of all correlation values found in the literature. For the first time it is explicitly shown how evolution in a selected photospheric field influences the evolution of granular/intergranular structures.

Using the Greenwich Photoheliographic Results for the years 1874–1976 the daily rotational velocities for 955 recurrent and 13169 non-recurrent sunspot groups from the first day of their appearance and during their evolution have been determined. The rotational velocities were divided in six latitude strips with a width of five degrees and grouped according to the age of the groups. It was established that the rotational velocities of recurrent and non-recurrent sunspot groups decrease with time in all studied latitude strips. At their birth the recurrent spot groups rotate faster by about 0.15° day−1 than the non-recurrent ones and settle, within the errors of measurements, to an about 0.5° day−1 slower velocity value during the second disc passage. A comparison of our results with helioseismology measurements indicates that in the frame of the anchoring hypothesis, the recurrent sunspot groups at their birth could be coupled to the fast rotating layer at about r=0.93 R ⊙.

High resolution observations of solar granulation near the solar limb are used in a search for hydrodynamic shocks caused by an abrupt braking of the fast (probably supersonic) horizontal flow of the granular plasma towards the intergranular lane. Shock signatures in the spectral line of Fe II 6456.38 A of one particular observed shock event are investigated in detail. Evolution, amplitude, and spatial relation of the spectral line characteristics of the shock event are in agreement with predictions from numerical simulations for such shock phenomena in the solar photosphere. The dimensions and amplitudes of the observed shock signatures are comparable to predicted values when seeing and instrumental effects as well as a possible obliqueness of the shock front with respect to the observer's line-of-sight are taken into account. The temporal evolution of such an event is observed for the first time. The stable and declining phase of the event were studied for a time period of almost 2 min. A particular relationship was found between the shock event and a nearby G-band bright point located 2 �� from the shock event. It is suggestive that the observed shock is a causal consequence of the magnetic flux concentration, traced by the G-band bright point. Such a type of shock can appear outside the flux concentrations as a consequence of a rapid flux-tube motion.

Full-disc solar images obtained with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) are used to analyse solar differential rotation by tracing coronal bright points for the period June 4, 1998 to May 22, 1999. A method for the simultaneous determination of the true solar synodic rotation velocity and the height of the tracers is applied to data sets analysed with interactive and automatic methods. The calculated height of coronal bright points is on average 8000-12000 km above the photosphere. Corrected rotation velocities are transformed into sidereal ones and compared with results from the literature, obtained with various methods and tracers. The differential rotation profile determined by coronal bright points with the interactive method corresponds roughly to the profile obtained by correlating photospheric magnetic fields and the profile obtained from the automatic method corresponds roughly to the rotation of sunspot groups. This result is interpreted in terms of the differences obtained in the latitudinal distribution of coronal bright points using the two methods.

For the leading part of sunspot group NOAA 8323, which rapidly changed its complex structure, a time series of the line-of-sight (LOS) component of the velocity field was obtained. With a two-dimensional Fabry–Perot spectrometer, the magnetically insensitive line Fe i 557.6 nm was scanned. The inclination of the LOS (heliographic angle) to the vertical was θ=28.5°. The umbra of the observed spot was divided by a system of light bridges into several parts. The spatial and temporal velocity field also exhibits a considerable complexity: in one extended umbral area there is a downward flow of 1 km s−1 relative to other dark sub-umbrae. At the center-side penumbra, with a line-of-sight Evershed outflow of 1.5 km s−1, a persistent patch, somewhat darker than the average penumbra, has a LOS velocity of 1.3 km s−1 in opposite direction, probably a downflow. At the limb-side penumbra, a photosphere-like area is interspersed, interrupting the Evershed flow which resumes with typical strength beyond this feature towards the outer penumbral boundary. Most interesting is the behavior of the light bridges, which have a slight blue shift, interrupted by short events of strong blue or red shifts which – within the time resolution of 35 s – instantly affect a considerable part of a light bridge.

A precise procedure suitable for the reduction of solar spectra taken with large CCD arrays and the retrieval of correct spectral characteristics is presented. Various eects, which one should take into account, are considered and several improvements of the standard reduction are introduced. A special flat-field procedure is suggested for the reduction of spectra registered in dierent flat-field conditions than those when the flat-field matrix was taken. The original flat-field matrix is split into several components to eliminate the influence of the drift of the spectrograph and temporal changes of the flat-field conditions on the reduced spectrum. The importance of every flat-field matrix component is tested and discussed and the noise propagation through data reduction is analyzed. It is documented that the errors of the basic spectral line characteristics, continuum intensity, line centre intensity and full width at the half maxima of the line have variations between 0.5% and 15% and the errors of the line centre Doppler velocity and bisectors fluctuate by up to 200 m s 1 , if derived from imprecise reductions, compared to precise ones.

Full-disc solar images obtained with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) were used to analyse solar dierential rotation by tracing coronal bright points. The results obtained with the interactive and the automatic method for the time period June 4, 1998 to May 22, 1999 are presented and compared. A possible north-south rotational asymmetry and dierences in the rotation velocity curves for various subtypes of tracers are investigated.

Many sunspots and sunspot groups exhibit only a small amount of change of their heliographical latitude during their lifetime. This is called meridional motion and measured in fractions of degrees per day or meters per second. The fact is demonstrated for sunspots and sunspot groups selected from several sources and especially for recurrent sunspots from Debrecen data. There is a tendency of the sunspots and sunspot groups to move away from the activity belt, which is defined by all sunspots. The meridional velocities increase with distance to the activity belt. Since the braking of sunspot rotation velocities by aging is well known, it is suggested again that the meridional motion of the solar plasma is comparable to that of the sunspot groups.

Stable recurrent sunspot groups from the Greenwich data set which were identified in at least two subsequent solar rotations were traced. The solar rotation was determined by the period method from the time difference of the two central meridian passages of each of the 327 identified groups. Sidereal rotation periods were calculated from the synodic ones by a seasonal-dependent procedure taking into account the details of the Earth's motion around the Sun. Growing recurrent sunspot groups rotate on the average faster than decaying recurrent sunspot groups, while sunspot groups of all types taken together rotate faster than both growing and decaying recurrent sunspot groups. A north–south rotational asymmetry and a cycle-dependence of rotational velocity of recurrent sunspot groups were analyzed. Positive rotation velocity deviations are larger, but less numerous than the negative ones. Signatures of torsional oscillations were not found analyzing the rotation velocity residual of recurrent sunspot groups as a function of the distance from the average latitude of activity.

The goal of this paper is to investigate Reynolds stresses and to check if it is plausible that they are responsible for angular momentum transfer toward the solar equator. We also analysed meridional velocity, rotation velocity residuals and correlation between the velocities. We used sunspot groups position measurements from GPR (Greenwich Photographic Result) and SOON/USAF/NOAA (Solar Observing Optical Network/United States Air Force/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) databases covering the period from 1878 until 2011. In order to calculate velocities we used daily motion of sunspot groups. The sample was also limited to $\pm$58\degr in Central Meridian Distance (CMD) in order to avoid solar limb effects. We mainly investigated velocity patterns depending on solar cycle phase and latitude. We found that meridional motion of sunspot groups is toward the centre of activity from all available latitudes and in all phases of the solar cycle. The range of meridional velocities is $\pm10$ m s$^{; ; ; ; ; -1}; ; ; ; ; $. Horizontal Reynolds stress is negative at all available latitudes and indicates that there is a minimum value ($q\approx$ - 3000 m$^2$ s$^{; ; ; ; ; -2}; ; ; ; ; $) located at $b\approx\pm$30$\degr$. In our convention this means that angular momentum is transported toward the solar equator in agreement with the observed rotational profile of the Sun.

Existing methods for conversion between synodic and sidereal rotation velocities of the Sun are tested for validity using state of the art ephemeris data. It is found that some of them are in good agreement with ephemeris calculations, while the other ones show a discrepancy of almost 0.01 deg per day. The discrepancy is attributed to a missing factor and a new corrected relation is given., Accepted for publication in Sol. Phys., 7 pages, 3 figures

Full-disc solar images obtained with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) were used to analyse solar dierential rotation determined by tracing coronal bright points. Two dierent procedures were developed and compared: an interactive and an automatic method. The interactive method is based on the visual tracing of coronal bright points in consecutive images using computer programs written in the Interactive Data Language (IDL). The automatic method relies on the IDL procedure \Regions Of Interest (ROI) segmentation" which is used to detect and follow bright points in triplets of consecutive images. The test-results obtained applying both methods by dierent persons who performed tracing are presented and compared. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are discussed.

Stable recurrent sunspot groups from the Greenwich data set which were identified in at least two subsequent solar rotations were traced and meridional motions were determined from the two central meridian passages. In total, 327 meridional velocities were calculated and the results for the northern and the southern solar hemisphere were compared. A dependence of the solar meridional velocity vectors on the development status, latitude and position respectively to the activity belt of sunspots is investigated. The results indicate that sunspot groups are moving on the average away from the center of activity. This was found for sunspot groups growing and decreasing in area.

Observations of the Sun performed at 37 GHz with the 14-m radio telescope of the Metsahovi Radio Observatory were analyzed. Rotation velocities were determined, tracing Low Temperature Regions (LTRs) in the years 1979–1980, 1981–1982, 1987–1988, and 1989–1991. Statistical weights were ascribed to the determined rotation velocities of LTRs, according to the number of tracing days. Measured changes of the rotation velocity during the solar activity cycle, as well as a north–south rotation asymmetry, are discussed. The results obtained with and without the statistical weights procedure are compared, and it was found that the statistical significance of the solar differential rotation parameters' changes is higher when the statistical weights procedure is applied. A selective application of the height correction on LTR's positions has not removed the cycle-related changes nor the north–south asymmetry of the solar rotation measured tracing LTRs. So, projection effects cannot explain these changes. The differential rotation of LTRs is more rigid than the differential rotation obtained tracing magnetic features and measuring Doppler shifts, which can be explained by the association rate of the LTRs' positions with rigidly rotating `pivot points'. The observed cycle-related changes and the north–south asymmetry of the rotation velocity of LTRs are consistent with the cycle-related changes and the north–south asymmetry of the association rate between LTRs and pivot points.

Daily full-disk solar maps obtained at 37 GHz in the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991 are analysed and compared with full-disk solar maps in Hα. A search for a difference in the measured angular rotation velocity for two classes of microwave low-brightness-temperature regions (LTRs), associated and not associated with Hα filaments, is performed. Procedures with and without statistical weights, assigned to angular rotation velocities according to the tracing time, are applied and the statistical significance of the results is discussed. A higher angular rotation velocity is measured for LTRs associated with Hα filaments than for the not-associated ones. This angular velocity difference is interpreted as a consequence of a height difference between these two types of LTR tracers. Changes of the solar differential rotation velocity during the activity cycle measured using LTRs as tracers are explained by the measured cycle-dependence of the association rate between LTRs and Hα filaments. Similarly, the north–south asymmetry in the solar rotation velocity measured tracing LTRs is explained by the measured north–south asymmetry in the association rate between LTRs and Hα filaments. The rotation velocity of LTRs and Hα filaments is on the average more rigid in comparison with sunspots.

Two large stable solar filaments were used as test tracers to determine the apparent synodic rotation rate as a function of the central meridian distance for several filaments' segments at different heights. An analytic fitting procedure was applied to determine simultaneously the real synodic rotation rate and the height of the traced filament segments. The determined heights were compared with the values obtained from the widths of filament contours on the solar disk and with the values obtained by direct measurements at the solar limb. Furthermore, the obtained rotation rates and heights of the filaments' segments close to the filaments' pivot points were compared with the values obtained using two successive central meridian passages. Finally, sources and scales of errors were investigated and possible implications on the previous studies of the solar differential rotation were considered.

The interaction between differential rotation and magnetic fields in the solar convection zone was recently modelled by Brun (2004). One consequence of that model is that the Maxwell stresses can oppose the Reynolds stresses, and thus contribute to the transport of the angular momentum towards the solar poles, leading to a reduced differential rotation. So, when magnetic fields are weaker, a more pronounced differential rotation can be expected, yielding a higher rotation velocity at low latitudes taken on the average. This hypothesis is consistent with the behaviour of the solar rotation during the Maunder minimum. In this work we search for similar signatures of the relationship between the solar activity and rotation determined tracing sunspot groups and coronal bright points. We use the extended Greenwich data set (1878­ 1981) and a series of full-disc solar images taken at 28.4 nm with the EIT instrument on the SOHO spacecraft (1998­ 2000). We investigate the dependence of the solar rotation on the solar activity (described by the relative sunspot number) and the interplanetary magnetic field (calculated from the interdiurnal variability index). Possible rotational signatures of two weak solar activity cycles at the beginning of the 20th century (Gleissberg minimum) are discussed.

The dependence of the measured apparent synodic solar rotation rate on the height of the chosen tracer is studied. A significant error occurs if the rotation rate is determined by tracing the apparent position of an object above the photospheric level projected on the solar disc. The centre-to-limb variation of this error can be used to determine simultaneously the height of the object and the true synodic rotation rate. The apparent (projected) heliographic coordinates are presented as a function of the height of the traced object and the coordinates of its ‘footpoint’. The relations obtained provide an explicit expression for the apparent rotation rate as a function of the observed heliographic coordinates of the tracer, enabling an analytic least-squares fit expression to determine simultaneously the real synodic rotation rate and the height of the tracer.

Time series of two-dimensional spectra were taken with the Gottingen 2D spectrometer at the VTT on Tenerife in 1996. They were investigated for Doppler velocities and velocity oscillations in small spots and pores of rapidly evolving sunspot groups. For the present measurements the magnetically insensitive lines Fe i 557.6 nm and Fe i 709.0 nm were selected.

The solar rotation rate obtained using the microwave Low-brightness-Temperature Regions (LTRs) as tracers in the heliographic range ± 55° from the years 1979–1980, 1981–1982, 1987–1988, and 1989–1991 varied from 3% to 4% in medium latitudes, and below 1% at the equator. Using Hα filaments as tracers at higher latitudes from the years 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, and 1987, the solar rotation rate variation was between 2% and 8%. This represents an upper limit on the rotation rate variation during the solar activity cycle. Such changes could be caused by short-lived, large-scale velocity patterns on the solar surface. The Sun revealed a higher rotation rate on the average during the maxima of the solar activity cycles 21 and 22, i.e., in the periods 1979–1980 and 1989–1991, respectively, which differs from the rotation rates (lower on the average) in some years, 1981–1982 and 1987–1988, between the activity maximum and minimum (LTR data). Simultaneous comparison of rotation rates from LTRs and Hα filament tracings was possible in very limited time intervals and latitude bands only, and no systematic relationship was found, although the rotation rates determined by LTRs were mostly smaller than the rotation rates determined by Hα filaments. The errors obtained by applying different fitting procedures of the LTR data were analyzed, as well as the influence of the height correction. Finally, the north–south asymmetry in the rotation rate investigated by LTRs indicates that the southern solar hemisphere rotated slower in the periods under consideration, the difference being about 1%. The reliability of all obtained results is discussed and a comparison with other related studies was performed.

Measurements of the Sun in the near-infrared He i 10830 A absorption line were performed using the echelle spectrograph with a dispersion of 6.71 mA per pixel at the Vacuum Tower Telescope (German Solar Telescopes, Teide Observatory, Izana, Tenerife, Spain) on May 26, 1993. These measurements were compared with full-disc soft X-ray images of the Sun (Japanese solar satellite Yohkoh), full-disc solar images in Hα (Big Bear Solar Observatory), full-disc solar images in the He i 10830 A line (National Solar Observatory, Kitt Peak) and with full-disc microwave solar maps at 37 GHz (Metsahovi Radio Research Station). In the He 10830 A line the Sun displays a limb darkening similar to that in the visible part of the spectrum. Active regions and Hα filaments show a strong absorption in the He 10830 A line, whereas the absorption is weak in coronal holes.

The relation between the synodic and sidereal rotation period of the Sun for an arbitrary date of observation is derived taking into account details of the Earth's motion. The transformation procedure between the synodic (apparent) and sidereal rotation period presented here can be performed without using the annual ephemerides.

The complete sample of theGreenwich Photoheliographic Results (GPR) for the years 1874–1976 was used for the investigation of the growth and decay of sunspot groups. The results were compared with similar findings from the Mt. Wilson sunspot data for the years 1917–1985, which were recently published by R. F. Howard. The results of the absolute umbral area changes are about the same for both sets of data. The main difference between the sets of data occurs for the percentage increase of the umbral areas as a function of latitude. The mean values from the Mt. Wilson data are bigger by a factor of 5 to 7 and show a dependence on the latitude, while the increase of the Greenwich data does not depend on the latitude. The decrease of sunspot areas as a function of latitude is only available from the Greenwich data. There occur higher values for the decrease for higher latitudes from 2.5 up to 42.5 deg

The temporal evolution of temperature in a dissolving granule and in an adjacent intergranular space is presented. The semi-empirical evolutionary models have been calculated using an inversion method applied to 4-min time series of Stokes I spectral line profiles. The models are presented in the form of the functional dependence of temperature T(log τ5, t) on optical depth τ5 at 500 nm and time t. The observed disappearance of the granule is accompanied with overall cooling of the granular photosphere. Temperature changes greater than 100 K have been found in deeper (log τ5 ≥ 0) and upper layers (log τ5 ≤ –2) whereas the intermediate layers are thermally stable. The intergranular space, which is 2 arcsec off the granule, keeps the temperature structure of the layers from log τ5 = 0.5 to log τ5 = –2 without global evolutionary changes except short-term and spatially confined heating. Finally, the significant temperature changes in the upper layers (log τ5 ≤ 2.5) observed during the time interval of 4 min are found to be typical for the granular and intergranular photosphere.

We investigate the temporal evolution of magnetic flux emerging within a granule in the quiet-Sun internetwork at disk center. We combined IR spectropolarimetry performed in two Fe I lines at 1565 nm with speckle-reconstructed G-band imaging. We determined the magnetic field parameters by a LTE inversion of the full Stokes vector using the SIR code, and followed their evolution in time. To interpret the observations, we created a geometrical model of a rising loop in 3D. The relevant parameters of the loop were matched to the observations where possible. We then synthesized spectra from the 3D model for a comparison to the observations. We found signatures of magnetic flux emergence within a growing granule. In the early phases, a horizontal magnetic field with a distinct linear polarization signal dominated the emerging flux. Later on, two patches of opposite circular polarization signal appeared symmetrically on either side of the linear polarization patch, indicating a small loop-like structure. The mean magnetic flux density of this loop was roughly 450 G, with a total magnetic flux of around 3x10^17 Mx. During the ~12 min episode of loop occurrence, the spatial extent of the loop increased from about 1 to 2 arcsec. The middle part of the appearing feature was blueshifted during its occurrence, supporting the scenario of an emerging loop. The temporal evolution of the observed spectra is reproduced to first order by the spectra derived from the geometrical model. The observed event can be explained as a case of flux emergence in the shape of a small-scale loop., 10 pages, 13 figures; accepted for Astronomy and Astrophysics; ps and eps figures in full resolution are available at http://www.astro.sk/~koza/figures/aa2009_loop/

Context. We compare solar differential rotation of subphotospheric layers derived from local helioseismology analysis of GONG++ dopplergrams and the one derived from tracing small bright coronal structures (SBCS) using EIT/SOHO images for the period August 2001 - December 2006, which correspond to the declining phase of solar cycle 23. Aims. The study aims to find a relationship between the rotation of the SBCS and the subphotospheric angular velocity. The northsouth asymmetries of both rotation velocity measurements are also investigated. Methods. Subphotospheric differential rotation was derived using ring-diagram analysis of GONG++ full-disk dopplergrams of 1 min cadence. The coronal rotation was derived by using an automatic method to identify and track the small bright coronal structures in EIT full-disk images of 6 hours cadence. Results. We find that the SBCS rotate faster than the considered upper subphotospheric layer (3Mm) by about 0.5 deg/day at the equator. This result joins the results of several other magnetic features (sunspots, plages, faculae, etc.) with a higher rotation than the solar plasma. The rotation rate latitudinal gradients of the SBCS and the subphotospheric layers are very similar. The SBCS motion shows an acceleration of about 0.005 deg/day/month during the declining phase of solar cycle 23, whereas the angular velocity of subsurface layers does not display any evident variation with time, except for the well known torsional oscillation pattern. Finally, both subphotospheric and coronal rotations of the southern hemisphere are predominantly larger than those of the northern hemisphere. At latitudes where the north-south asymmetry of the angular velocity increases (decreases) with activity for the SBCS, it decreases (increases) for subphotospheric layers., 6pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Context. Generally, there are two procedures for solar cycle predictions: the empirical methods – statistical methods based on extrapolations and precursor methods – and methods based on dynamo models. Aims. The goal of the present analysis is to forecast the strength and epochs of the next solar cycle, to investigate proxies for grand solar minima and to reconstruct the relative sunspot number in the Maunder minimum. Methods. We calculate the asymmetry of the ascending and descending solar cycle phases (Method 1) and use this parameter as a proxy for solar activity on longer time scales. Further, we correlate the relative sunspot numbers in the epochs of solar activity minima and maxima (Method 2) and estimate the parameters of an autoregressive moving average model (ARMA, Method 3). Finally, the power spectrum of data obtained with the Method 1 is analysed and the Methods 1 and 3 are combined. Results. Signatures of the Maunder, Dalton and Gleissberg minima were found with Method 1. A period of about 70 years, somewhat shorter than the Gleissberg period was identified in the asymmetry data. The maximal smoothed monthly sunspot number during the Maunder minimum was reconstructed and found to be in the range 0–35 (Method 1). The estimated Wolf number (also called the relative sunspot number) of the next solar maximum is in the range 88–102 (Method 2). Method 3 predicts the next solar maximum between 2011 and 2012 and the next solar minimum for 2017. Also, it forecasts the relative sunspot number in the next maximum to be . A combination of the Methods 1 and 3 gives for the next solar maximum relative sunspot numbers between 78 and 99. Conclusions. The asymmetry parameter provided by Method 1 is a good proxy for solar activity in the past, also in the periods for which no relative sunspot numbers are available. Our prediction for the next solar cycle No. 24 is that it will be weaker than the last cycle, No. 23. This prediction is based on various independent methods.

At the wavelength of 8 mm emissive features (high brightness temperatrue regions, HTRs) and absorptive features (low brightness temperature regions, LTRs) can be traced for the determination of the solar rotation. From earlier studies it is known that about two thirds of LTRs are ssociated with H$\alpha$ filaments. Thermal bremsstrahlung and gyromagnetic (cyclotron) radiation mechanism can be important to explain the observed phenomena. The goal of the present analysis is to determine the heights of solar structures and to interpret their radiation mechanism(s). We use the method for the simultaneous determination of the solar synodic rotation velocity and the height of tracers. The rotation velocities were determined by the linear least-square fit of their central meridian distance as a function of time. A procedure for calculating the brightness temperature for a given wavelength and model atmosphere, integrating the radiative transfer equation for the thermal bremsstrahlung, is used. The mean value of the low brightness temperature regions' heights is about 45 600 km. This height was used as an input for constructing prominence and coronal condensation models, which, assuming thermal bremsstrahlung as the radiation mechanism, yield a decrease of the brightness temperature of the order of 2--14\%, in agreement with observations. If the same radiation mechanism is considered, the models of the solar corona above active regions give an increase of the brightness temperature of the order of 5--19\%, also in agreement with observations. In this latter case an indirect indication (from the rotational analysis) that the HTRs are located higher in the solar atmosphere than the LTRs was taken into account. The method for the simultaneous determination of the solar synodic rotation velocity and the height of tracers could have been properly applied only on LTRs, since a homogeneous distribution over latitudes and central meridian distances of a large enough data set is necessary. Thermal bremsstrahlung can explain both the LTR (prominences and coronal condensations) and HTR (ordinary active regions) phenomena observed at 8 mm. At this wavelength thermal gyromagnetic emission is almost surely excluded as a possible radiation mechanism.

In this contribution, preliminary results of the main component analysis of Bartels diagram of time series of daily values of sunspot group numbers for solar cycles 18, 19 and 20 are presented. The results obtained suggest that the most significant feature in the longitudinal distribution of sunspot activity is the existence of preferred solar hemispheres alternating with a mean period of 2.5 Bartels rotations.

We analyze temporal variations in the intensities and the Doppler shifts of He i 584.33 A (chromosphere), O v 629.73 A (transition region), and Mg ix 368.07 A (corona) measured in and above chromospheric network near disk center with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). There is significant correlation between the He i and O v modulations, with O v intensity leading He i intensity by 27.3 s ± 4.6 s but no significant time shift in the Doppler shift. Cross-correlation between the O v and Mg ix intensities reveals multiple maxima without correlation between their Doppler shifts. Wavelet power analysis gives evidence of intermittent chromospheric and transition-region oscillations with periodicities in the 250−450 s range and of coronal oscillations in the 110−300 s range. Wavelet phase difference analysis shows that the determined time shift between variations of the He i and O v intensities is dominated by waves with about 300 s periodicity. We interpret these results as giving evidence of compressive waves that propagate downward from the transition region to the chromosphere in the particular chromospheric network. We discuss different scenarios regarding origin and source localization of waves, and we speculate on their role in coronal heating above chromospheric network.

Analysis of a blinker, observed with the SUMER/SOHO spectrometer in the C ii 1036.34 A, C ii 1037.01 A, O vi 1037.61 A lines and in C i continuum, is presented. We find that the blinker is highly pronounced in both the chromosphere and transition region. Intensities of chromospheric and transition region lines behave similarly although the blinker is more pronounced in the upper transition region.

Applying a correlation analysis to time series of granulation it has been shown that due to the influence of enhanced turbulent motions near the downflow regions in the intergranular lanes the turbulent motions predominate.

A rigid component in the rotation velocity determined by tracing low brightness temperature regions in the microwave regime was found and interpreted in terms of their association rate (39%) with rigidly rotating “pivot-points”.

Experience with the SUMER/SOHO observations of the chromospheric dynamics and the reduction of the acquired data is summarized on base of the SOHO Joint Operation Program 78 which is focused on the variability of the chromosphere and the transition region to the corona.

Full-disc solar images in the extreme ultraviolet part of the spectrum from the SOHO spacecraft (EIT) are used to identify various coronal structures appropriate for the solar rotation determination (e.g. bright points and coronal holes). From the time differences in tracer positions (more than 1 image per day) solar rotation velocities are measured, primarily by well-defined tracers, such as coronal bright points, whose large number and broad coverage of latitudes may provide an unique opportunity for a solar rotation analysis. The analysis started using the SOHO data from 1997-1999 and preliminary experiences obtained measuring solar rotation from the full-disc images in soft X-rays from the YOHKOH (SXT) satellite were taken into account. - this work is connected to the SOHO EIT Proposal Brajsa_206

A simple experimental method for comparison of the line formation heights in the solar photosphere is presented. Several Fe I lines are used to test the method.

Greenwich data (1874–1976) are used for a time-dependent analysis of meridional motions of sunspot groups. We obtain the latitude-dependence of meridional motions of sunspot groups with respect to a mean latitude determined for half-year intervals. The daily meridional motions of groups are also given separately for growing and decaying sunspot groups. The development is determined from changes of sunspot areas. Our results are compared with the reductions performed by Howard (1991b) using the Mt. Wilson sunspot data from 1917 until 1985: Although we have smaller errors, we do not find any significant drift. We also do not find different trends in the meridional motions of growing as compared to decreasing sunspots.

Aims: The study aims to find a relationship between the rotation of the small bright coronal structures (SBCS) described by the solar rotation parameters and indices of solar activity on monthly and yearly temporal scales. Methods: We analyse precise measurements of the solar differential rotation determined by tracing SBCS in SOHO-EIT images and compare the derived solar rotation parameters with the status of solar activity in the period 1998 - 2006. Full-disc solar images obtained with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) were used to analyse solar differential rotation determined by tracing SBCS. An automatic method to identify and track the SBCS in EIT full-disc images with a six hour cadence is applied. We performed a statistical analysis of the monthly and yearly values of solar sidereal rotation velocity parameters A and B (corresponding to the equatorial rotation velocity and the gradient of the solar differential rotation, respectively) as a function of various solar activity indices. Results: The dependence of the solar rotation on the phase of the solar cycle was found. It is clearly visible for the solar rotation parameter A, whilst the results are not conclusive for parameter B. The relationship between the solar rotation and activity, expressed by the monthly relative sunspot number, the smoothed monthly relative sunspot number, the yearly relative sunspot number, and the interdiurnal variability (IDV) index was investigated. The statistically significant correlation was found for the solar rotation parameter A, whilst a very low and insignificant correlation was obtained for the rotation parameter B. Conclusions: During the maximum of the solar cycle 23 and just after it, the equatorial solar rotation velocity was lower than in other phases of the cycle, when there was less activity. This is consistent with other observational findings, obtained by different tracers and methods.

In this contribution, preliminary results of the main component analysis of Bartels diagram of time series of daily values of sunspot group numbers for solar cycles 18, 19 and 20 are presented. The results obtained suggest that the most significant feature in the longitudinal distribution of sunspot activity is the existence of preferred solar hemispheres alternating with a mean period of 2.5 Bartels rotations.