North-South Distribution and Asymmetry of GOES SXR Flares during Solar Cycle 24

TL;DR

This study analyzes the north-south asymmetry of GOES soft X-ray flares during solar cycle 24, revealing phase-dependent hemispheric dominance and a pronounced asymmetry near the cycle maximum.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the hemispheric distribution and asymmetry of SXR flares across different phases of solar cycle 24, highlighting phase-dependent dominance patterns.

Findings

Northern excess during the cycle's ascending phase.

Southern excess during the descending phase.

Pronounced asymmetry near the cycle maximum.

Abstract

Here we present the results of the study of the north-south (N-S) distribution and asymmetry of GOES soft X-ray (SXR) flares during solar cycle 24. The period of study includes ascending, maximum and descending phases of the cycle. During the cycle double-peaked (2011, 2014) solar maximum has occurred. The cycle peak in the year 2011 is due to B-class flares excess activity in the northern hemisphere (NH) whereas C and M class flares excess activity in the southern hemisphere (SH) supported the second peak of the cycle in 2014. The data analysis shows that the SXR flares are more pronounced in 11 to 20 degree latitudes for each hemisphere. Cumulative values of SXR flare count show northern excess during the ascending phase of the cycle. However, in the descending phase of the cycle, southern excess occurred. In the cycle a significant SH dominated asymmetry exists. Near the maximum of the cycle, the asymmetry enhances pronouncedly and reverses in sign.