The Ca II K index-Mg II index relation: A Hilbert-Huang Transform approach

TL;DR

This study compares the Ca II K and Mg II indices over four solar cycles, revealing a strong 11-year cycle correlation and using Hilbert-Huang Transform to analyze their oscillation modes across different time scales.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of Hilbert-Huang Transform to analyze the relationship between Ca II K and Mg II indices over multiple solar cycles.

Findings

Strong correlation (r ≥ 0.94) between indices across solar cycles.

Maximum correlation observed at the 11-year solar cycle scale.

Correlation decreases at smaller time scales.

Abstract

The solar activity, which is driven by a variable magnetic field, exhibits changes along several time scales, the 11-year being the most known. In addition to the SunSpot Number, the Ca II K index and the Mg II index are indices widely employed among those proposed to quantify the solar activity, also because of their ability to trace the solar UV emission. In this work, we compare the Ca II K 0.1nm emission index to the Mg II index over the time interval 1978-2017, which covers almost four solar cycles. We show that they are strongly correlated across each solar cycle (r$\geq$0.94), providing the corresponding linear regression fit parameters. The Hilbert-Huang Transform is then used to decompose such indices into their intrinsic mode of oscillation. By studying how their components are correlated over the different time scales, it is found that the maximum correlation is observed at the 11-year scale, while the correlation is less strong going to smaller time scales.