Frequency shifts of the individual low-degree p modes during solar cycle 23 and its extended minimum

TL;DR

This study analyzes low-degree solar p-mode frequency shifts during solar cycle 23 and its extended minimum, revealing unusual behavior in mode variations that suggest high-latitude magnetic flux changes linked to solar cycle 24.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the differential frequency shifts of low-degree p-modes during an extended solar minimum, indicating high-latitude magnetic activity variations.

Findings

l=0 and l=2 mode frequencies increased since late 2007

l=1 mode frequencies continued decreasing with surface activity

Differences suggest high-latitude magnetic flux variations

Abstract

We study the response of the low-degree solar p-mode frequencies to the unusual extension of the minimum of solar surface activity since 2007. Helioseismic observations collected by the space-based, Sun-as-a-star GOLF instrument and by the ground-based, multi-site network GONG (integrated signal) are analyzed. Temporal variations of the low-degree (l=0,1,2), p-mode frequencies are obtained. Although the known correlation of the frequency changes with the solar surface activity is recovered for the period 1996-2007, since the second half of 2007 and until July 2009 (latest period analyzed) we notice a peculiar behavior amongst modes of different angular degrees. In particular, a clear increase of the l=0 and l=2 p-mode frequencies is consistently obtained since late 2007, while the l=1 frequencies follow the general decreasing trend of surface activity. We interpret these differences in the frequency shifts of individual low-degree modes as indicative of variations at high latitudes in the magnetic flux beneath the surface of the Sun related to the onset of solar cycle 24.