4. Global Asymmetry of the Sun (Active Longitudes) as Seen in October-November 2003 Events

[14]  Simultaneous and global increase of the dissipation in the upper solar atmosphere in October-November 2003 was documented in all spectral ranges of electromagnetic radiation and plasma emissions at all levels from the photosphere up to the upper corona and the heliosphere [Gonzalez et al., 2004; Vernova et al., 2005; R. Schwenn, Space weather: Solar perspective, available at http://solarphysics.livingreviews.org/Articles/lrsp-2006-2/]. Strongest energy releases in the shape of coronal mass ejections and solar flares occurred on the one (brighter and more contrasting) side of the Sun. All important active regions, big prominences, and coronal holes were concentrated on this side. This situation is typical for declining phases of the solar cycles. Especially big prominences and eruptions including transequatorial ones are common and known long ago for this phase of the cycles. Parameters of the solar electromagnetic radiation, solar and heliospheric magnetic fields, and solar wind high-speed streams are organized in the superposition of corotating and sporadic perturbations, which are also partially correlated. During the maximum years this asymmetry also exists, but it is more complicated and seems to be not so prominent. Further quantitative studies are needed on this point.

[15]  The current solar cycle demonstrated several series of powerful eruptions which can be also considered as partially sporadic and partially corotating events. This situation was observed in September 2005. The solar activity abruptly dropped after this time. This is also a possible indication of the couplings in time between shorter scales (days-hours) and longer ones (months). The notion of the superlong duration solar flares has its right to existence.


AGU

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