Wavelet analysis of solar magnetic strength indices

TL;DR

This study applies wavelet analysis to solar magnetic indices over multiple solar cycles to investigate their time-frequency behavior and understand underlying dynamo mechanisms, especially during unusual solar minimum periods.

Contribution

It provides a detailed wavelet analysis of magnetic indices over several solar cycles, highlighting changes in multiscale quasiperiodic variations and the current weak solar cycle 24.

Findings

Detected changes in multiscale quasiperiodic variations across cycles

Identified unique features during the deep solar minimum

Compared past and current solar cycle magnetic activity

Abstract

Wavelet analysis of different solar activity indices, sunspot numbers, sunspot areas, flare index, magnetic fields, etc., allows us to investigate the time evolution of some specific features of the solar activity and the underlying dynamo mechanism. The main aim of this work is the analysis of the time-frequency behavior of some magnetic strengtht indices currently taken at the Mt. Wilson Observatory 150-Foot Solar Tower. In particular, we analyzed both the long time series (Jan 19, 1970 - Jan 22, 2013) of the Magnetic Plage Strength Index (MPSI) values and of the Mt. Wilson Sunspot Index (MWSI) values, covering the descending phase of cycle 20, the full solar cycles 21-23 and the current part of the 24 solar cycle. This study is a further contribution to detect the changes in the multiscale quasiperiodic variations in the integrated magnetic solar activity with a comparison between past solar cycles and the current one, which is one of the weaker recorded in the past 100 years. Indeed, it is well known that an unusual and deep solar minimum occurred between solar cycles 23 and 24 and the time-frequency behavior of some magnetic strengtht indices can help to better interpret the responsible mechanisms.