The ratio between the number of sunspot and the number of sunspot groups

TL;DR

This study analyzes data from multiple observatories to examine the ratio of sunspots to sunspot groups, revealing it as a genuine solar feature linked to magnetic field variations, not observational biases.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the ratio between sunspots and sunspot groups varies with the solar cycle and is a real solar phenomenon, challenging previous assumptions about observational inconsistencies.

Findings

The ratio varies with the solar cycle.

The ratio is unaffected by observational differences.

The ratio reflects changes in solar magnetic fields.

Abstract

Data from three solar observatories, Learmonth, Holloman, and San Vito, are used to study the variations in the average number of sunspots per sunspot group. It is found that the different types of sunspot groups and the number of sunspots in these groups have different solar cycle and cycle to cycle variations. The varying ratio between the average number of sunspots and the number of sunspot groups is shown to be a real feature and not a result of changing observational instruments, observers experience, calculation schemes, etc., and is a result of variations in the solar magnetic fields. Therefore, the attempts to minimize the discrepancies between the sunspot number and sunspot group series are not justified, and lead to the loss of important information about the variability of the solar dynamo.