A Statistical Study of delta-Sunspots from Solar Cycle 23 to 25

TL;DR

This study analyzes delta-sunspots over three solar cycles, revealing their relationship with flare activity, their characteristics, and how their distribution varies across cycles, providing insights into solar magnetic activity and flare prediction.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive statistical analysis of delta-sunspots from solar cycle 23 to 25, highlighting their flare productivity, lifetimes, and distribution patterns, which were not previously characterized across multiple cycles.

Findings

Delta-ARs are strongly associated with higher flare activity.

Cycle 25 has fewer delta-ARs but more intense flares than cycle 24.

Median AR lifetime is shorter for delta-ARs (5 days) than non-delta ARs (8 days).

Abstract

Sunspots or active regions (ARs) with a delta-magnetic configuration are known to be associated with strong eruptions such as flares and mass ejections. This article investigates the relationship between delta-ARs and flares over the course of three solar cycles (SCs), from 1996 to 2024, with respect to the former's area, lifetime, latitudinal distribution, and phase of its magnetic complexity. Solar cycle 25 has produced the least number of delta-ARs in comparison to the previous two solar cycles, yet the number of M- and X-class flares exceed that of cycle 24 by 25%. Flare occurrence is higher in C-, M-, and X-class events during the presence of the delta-configuration which is seen in all 3 SCs. The total number of flares produced by delta- and non-delta-ARs were 15875 and 17033, respectively across all 3 SCs. The latter are dominated by B- and C-class flares, while the number of M- and X-class flares across all 3 SCs was significantly less than compared to delta-ARs. The median lifetime of an AR in the delta- and non-delta phase is about 5 and 8 days, respectively. The typical number of flares produced by a delta-AR is 20, with maximum values ranging from 80-156 for lifetimes between 6-13 days. However, about 30% of delta-ARs do not produce flares when their lifetimes are between 6-12 days. The latitudinal distribution of delta-ARs across the northern and southern hemispheres is nearly symmetric on either side of the equator for SCs 23 and 24, peaking around +/-10 deg-20 deg. For solar cycles 23 and 24, about 30% of the host delta-ARs have an area exceeding the mean value over the above latitudinal belt while for SC 25, there is a large scatter possibly due to the cycle still being in progress. It remains to be seen if the latter phase of SC 25 will be as active as its earlier phase and whether the number of delta-ARs emerging during that period scale with the total sunspot number.