The distribution of peculiar active regions along two solar cycles

MANDRINI, C.H.; LÓPEZ FUENTES, M.C.; DÉMOULIN, P.; VAN DRIEL-GESZTELYI, L.

Vico Equence

Congreso; Second Solar Cycle and Space Weather Euroconference; 2001

ESA

We perform a statistical study of the spatial and temporal distribution of "peculiar" active regions (ARs) along solar cycles 21 and 22. ARs usually appear in the photosphere in the form of bipolar concentrations of magnetic flux, by "peculiar" we mean regions in which the the main polarities rotate one around the other along several solar rotations. Our results show that these regions are spatially distributed as usual ARs when no selection on their magnetic flux is applied. When classified according to their flux, the latitudinal distribution of ARs above 1022 Mx closely follow the butterfly diagram; while those with lower flux are more randomly distributed. The number of rotating ARs follow the activity cycle, with a tendency to dual-peak maxima.