The Sun's polar magnetic field: datasets, proxies and theoretical issues

TL;DR

This paper reviews datasets, proxies, and theoretical models of the Sun's polar magnetic field, emphasizing its role in solar cycle prediction and discussing advances in dynamo modeling.

Contribution

It introduces recent developments in 3D dynamo models and proxy data for understanding the Sun's polar magnetic field evolution.

Findings

Proxies enable reconstruction of polar magnetic field since early 20th century.

3D dynamo models provide more realistic simulations of polar field build-up.

Polar magnetic field serves as a precursor for solar cycle prediction.

Abstract

The polar magnetic field of the Sun is a manifestation of certain aspects of the dynamo process and is a good precursor for predicting a sunspot cycle before its onset. Although actual synoptic measurements of this field exist only from the mid-1970s, it has now been possible to determine its evolution from the beginning of the twentieth century with the help of various proxies. The recently developed 3D kinematic dynamo model can study the build-up of the Sun's polar magnetic field more realistically than the earlier surface flux transport model.