The Maelstrom at the Sun’s North PoleObservations by the
SDO and
STEREO spacecraft reveal a vortex feature at the Sun’s North Pole. Further research hints at a similar structure at the Sun’s South Pole while both features show a degree of stability over a number of solar cycles.
Can you see it?
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12550The Alignment of the HeliotubeA re-reading of a number of scientific papers has resulted in a re-appraisal of my proposed alignment of the ‘heliotube’. The revised alignment much better fits
Cassini INCA observations.
From the revised alignment we can now see that what researchers called ‘Cassini Basins’ approximately correspond to the ‘inside’ of the heliotube, whilst the
IBEX Ribbon better fits the ‘pinch’ region of the heliotube.

- Galactic Coordinates looking toward 270 degrees longitude. For illustrative purposes only, not to scale.

- Galactic Coordinates looking toward 0 degrees longitude. For illustrative purposes only, not to scale.
Is the Solar Cycle a manifestation of two phenomena? In 1980 a study by a group of astronomers from the former USSR Academy of Sciences identified a large-scale background interplanetary magnetic field concluding that the “…reversal of the Sun’s dipolar field seems to be controlled by the Galaxy”.
The authors wrote: “Interplanetary magnetic field data from the different satellites obtained during the period 1963-1973 at 1 A.U. and compiled by J. King have been analysed in heliocentric ecliptic coordinates. The peculiarities of the background interplanetary magnetic field (BIMF) are discussed in relation to the orientation of the solar system in the Galaxy and the variable helioefficiency of the planets. The results of the direct cosmic experiments are evidence of the solar activity being a complex phenomenon of the solar system as a whole.
“The main objective of this investigation is an attempt to reconcile interplanetary magnetic field spatial structure with the spatial structure of the variable helioefficiency of the planets. The spatial structure of the variable helioefficiency in the solar system seems to be associated with two important directions: the line of nodes of the galactic equator and ecliptic and the ecliptic projection of the galactic magnetic field direction. This second direction is superficially manifested itself in the variable helioefficiency of Jupiter and Earth (for solar maximum and solar minimum).”
They found: “…This BIMF reveals itself as a weak signal against the background of the uncorrelated noise, created by the well-known sector structure of the IMF, The existence of BIMF with the following features is discussed.”
The features included such observations as: “…the BIMF does not co-rotate with the Sun, …The vortex structure of BIMF seems to occur, i.e., the circulation of the Bt- component over the Earth’s orbit is found not to be equal to zero and equivalent to the current of Jz- 10
9 amperes within the Earth’s orbit.”
The authors continued: “So, side by side with the well- known sector structure of the IMF, which co-rotates with the Sun and is associated with the large scale background solar magnetic field, the large scale structure of BIMF exists also. This structure is correlated with the magnetic field of sunspots, solar dipolar field and the orientation and motion of the solar system in the Galaxy.” (1)(2)
The large scale structure of the BIMF is “correlated with the magnetic field of sunspots, solar dipolar field and the orientation and motion of the solar system in the Galaxy.” This observation is similar to what has been proposed on this very thread, however, the study suggests that the actual process is more complicated. In my opinion, this may require a revision of our understanding of the heliosphere the authors found that the “… direction of the galactic magnetic field, …seems to determine the structure of the solar magnetosphere, especially in the outer solar system…”, if so it may be that the outer solar system is influenced more by the Local Interstellar Medium than the Sun. (3)
Hinode Observations by the
Hinode spacecraft hint at this more complex solar cycle, researchers found “…that the magnetic flux contribution of the large flux range (>10
18 Mx) clearly decreases, while that of the small flux range (between 10
15 Mx and 10
17 Mx) essentially stays the same.” (4)
“As the number of large concentrations of the dominant polarity decreases, their areas decrease as well.” (5)
“The large magnetic concentrations have a lifetime of about 10 hr, and only several tens of such patches essentially determine the global polar fields.” (6)
“The above results clearly indicate that the magnetic concentrations of the vertical magnetic fields in the polar regions consist of two different components. One corresponds to the large flux concentrations (large in terms of total magnetic flux per patch) with a dominant polarity. The total flux density contributed by this component varies with the solar cycle. The other is composed of the small flux concentrations of both polarities (small in terms of total unsigned magnetic flux per patch). The total flux density of this component does not vary with the solar cycle.”
“Our observations reveal that two different magnetic structures coexist in the polar regions. One clearly represents the single polarity, large flux concentrations that vary with the solar cycle, and the other corresponds to small flux concentrations whose flux seems to be maintained during the whole solar cycle by a local process. Polarity reversal would be due to the variation in the distribution of the large flux concentrations. The generation and maintenance of such large flux concentrations remains an open question.”(7)
“This may not be consistent with the standard flux transport dynamo model, which requires active regions that provide magnetic flux to reverse the polar fields…This suggests that the opposite polarity flux is transported to the polar region via meridional flow and/or a turbulent diffusion process as the solar activity increases.” (8)
From the observations made by
Hinode it can be seen that a component of the solar magnetic field does not vary over the solar cycle. The polarity of this component is positive (north) in the northern hemisphere and negative (south) in the southern hemisphere. Is this magnetic component the ‘intrinsic’ magnetic field of a rotating electrically charged Sun? If so, it is masked by the varying magnetic field of the solar cycle of which patches of increased magnetic polarity numbering only “several tens” are sufficient to “…determine the global polar fields.” The direction of rotation of the vortex structure in the northern hemisphere- clockwise- and in the southern hemisphere- anticlockwise- is the same direction as vortices in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, both planets show the same hemispheric magnetic polarity as the ‘intrinsic’ solar magnetic field. Furthermore, both vortices appear to contribute in forming a chevron pattern visible on the solar disc. (9)
Figure 8 from this paper: ‘Global Solar Magnetic Field Evolution Over 4 Solar Cycles’ (10) shows vortex patterns at both solar poles during Carrington Rotation (CR) 1728 (October 1982), videos available from links in the supplementary material show both structures present from CR 1513 (October 1966). Interestingly, the vortex rotation at both poles remains stable, regardless of the polarity of the polar region over the course of the solar cycle.
Akasofu and SunspotsAkasofu’s research has led him to conclude that the popular model of sunspot formation, the rising flux model (RF) is wrong. Akasofu identifies a number of observations that contradict the RF model: “It is accepted that sunspots occur when a magnetic flux tube rises above the photosphere, forming a pair of positive and negative spots at the cross–sections. However, this model has at least three long–standing problems, which contradict with the model, but have been left behind for a long time. They are: (1) the presence of magnetic monopole–like single spots, (2) the delay of the appearance of f–spots after p–spots, (3) the flux unbalance between p–and f–spots. Further, there are two newer observations to solve. They are: (4) positive single spots tend to be present in positive unipolar magnetic regions (vice versa); (5) pairs of spots tend to be present at the boundary unipolar magnetic regions, not elsewhere.” (11)
Akasofu’s research led him to conclude that the possible solution to the unsolved nature of sunspots lies with the following facts: “… unipolar magnetic fields are one of the basic features in solar magnetism …, not just remnants of old active regions, (b) single spots are the basic unit of sunspots, not pairs of spots.
Unipolar magnetic regions (UMR) of the Sun are not only a fundamental feature of the Sun but are also fundamental in understanding the real nature of sunspots, Akasofu takes what is believed by solar scientists to be nothing more than a by product of active regions (UMRs) and turns it into an axiom of solar activity.
The critical point to take from Akasofu’s work is- it is isolated unipolar sunspots that emerge in unipolar regions of the Sun, that are primary phenomena, as the solar cycle progresses isolated unipolar sunspots migrate from mid to low solar latitudes often buffering up to unipolar regions of the Sun with the opposite magnetic polarity. It is only when unipolar sunspots or groups of unipolar sunspots near the polarity inversion line (PIL) that pairs of dipolar sunspots or groups of dipolar sunspots form which resemble the accepted RF model of sunspots.
Solar Maximum- Hurricane Season?Writing in 1980, Howard and LaBonte suggested that the Sun was a ‘torsional oscillator’: “We find a torsional wave pattern with alternating latitude zones of slow and fast rotation, after subtracting a differentially rotating frame. Amplitudes of the flow pattern average about 3 ms
-1. It requires about 22 years for zones to drift from the poles, where they originate, to the equator, where they disappear. The pattern is symmetric about the equator. The zones representing the next solar cycle (No. 22) are seen now at high solar latitudes. Solar active regions are formed in a latitude strip centered on the boundary of fast- and slow-velocity zones. This pattern evidently represents a deep-seated circulation pattern and is the first evidence of the association of mass motions with large-scale characteristics of the solar activity cycle.” (12)
Akasofu commented on Howard and LaBonte’s paper by saying: “Since we are considering only morphologically the formation of sunspots in this paper, it may be noted that there is an interesting observation which shows that an east–west belt of ‘torsional oscillation’ (rotation or anti– parallel flow) on the photosphere shifts from poleward to equatorward during each sunspot cycle… McIntosh showed that there is a counter flow along such a belt and that solar activities are high certain locations along the belt. How such a dynamical belt can stimulate the formation or coalescence of spots at the specific boundary of two unipolar regions is beyond the scope of this paper.” (13)
Now, back to the solar polar vortex- we can see that the ‘arms’ of the vortex form the east-west counter-flow belts and it is along such belts that solar activities are high during solar maximum. Filamentary currents form isolated unipolar sunspots at mid latitudes, sunspots then drift from mid to low solar latitudes where individual or groups of unipolar sunspots of one polarity encounter individual or groups of sunspots with the opposite polarity as described by Akasofu.
We can see that the chevron belt pattern (14) is a feature of two solar polar vortices; in the northern hemisphere and viewed looking down on the north pole, the vortex rotation is clockwise (recall, this rotation direction is the dominant rotational direction for planetary atmospheric storms where the hemisphere contains a north magnetic pole), however, at low solar latitudes the Sun’s atmosphere appears to rotate anticlockwise, the same direction as the heliospheric plasma (and planetary motion). If my suggestion that the observations by
Hinode do represent an intrinsic component of the Sun’s magnetic field it does appear that an external cause is influencing a substantial part of the Sun’s ‘surface’ or ‘atmosphere’.
At solar minimum the Sun’s surface consists of essentially two UMRs divided by a single PIL, as energetic particles arrive/depart the Sun along vertical ‘open’ magnetic field lines and as the magnetic field lines are horizontal across the equatorial PIL a torus of energetic particles builds up. The coronal torus does not discharge to the solar surface but gradually disappears during solar maximum- when vertical ‘open’ magnetic field lines are found at the Sun’s equatorial regions.
The Cassini Belt- a Partial Ring Current?In the early 1970’s Ralph Juergens engaged in a series of exchanges with Professor Martin Kruskal. During one such exchange and in reply to Kruskal, Juergens stated:
“Next we come to his reference to a topological theorem that allows certain precisely located, hypothetical, magnetic lines of force to proceed radially out of the poles of a magnetised sphere, never to bend around and return. With such a theorem, I have no quarrel. But mathematics, as Kruskal, I think, would agree, frequently leads one to conclusions which have no physical reality. My point is that no one has yet been able to demonstrate that magnetism can be unrelated to electric currents. The only current that could conceivably produce the open-ended types of magnetic-flux lines insisted upon by Kruskal would be a ring current circling the sun at an infinite distance. Probably no one--least of all, perhaps, Dr. Kruskal wants to countenance such a heliocentric view of the universe.” (15)
Perhaps, Juergens was not too far off the mark, what if the Cassini Belt is, in fact, a partial ring current (PRC)? Could such a current produce the solar cycle? Given the orientation of the Cassini Belt such a current would pass over the Sun’s poles and would appear as a rotating dipole. Do other examples, which could serve as a guide, exist closer to home?
Saturn’s Rotating Transverse Magnetic Field caused by a Partial Ring CurrentAll is not what it appears at Saturn, observations by the
Cassini spacecraft revealed a rotating PRC that produces a strange magnetic field- one that mimics a rotating transverse dipole. Researchers noted: “Irrespective of the detailed physical scenario, however, the quasi-uniform nature of the observed magnetic perturbations in the ‘‘core’’ region requires that they be produced by a rotating external current system, rather than being due, for example, to a rotating magnetic anomaly at the planet. Specifically, as discussed by Southwood and Kivelson [2007], a quasi-uniform field within the ‘‘core’’ suggests the presence of surrounding currents flowing along the field lines that are directed from north-to-south on one side of the planet (adjacent to the region of positive azimuthal ‘‘core’’ field), and from south-to-north on the other (adjacent to the region of negative azimuthal ‘‘core’’ field), thus producing a roughly unidirectional field transverse to the current in the interior region. Southwood and Kivelson [2007] proposed that these field-aligned currents should flow between the northern and southern polar ionospheres, thus forming two near-complete current loops, one on either side of the planet, in which the current circulates in the same sense as each other, clockwise or anticlockwise as viewed from a particular direction.” Here we see acknowledgement that Saturn’s magnetic field, or at least a part of the magnetic field is “…produced by a rotating external current system”! If some aspects of Saturn’s magnetic field are produced externally can we rule out the possibility the IMF is not also produced externally? (16)
Solar Activity as a Complex PhenomenonThe solar cycle appears to be the product of two phenomena, one that is “controlled by the Galaxy” the other more local to the Sun itself. The solar atmosphere bears a striking resemblance to the Cytherean atmosphere even down to polar vortices and a global chevron pattern. Unlike Venus the Sun’s magnetic environment appears far more complex whilst
Cassini observations at Saturn suggest that features of the Kronian magnetic field have an external cause. Our current understanding of the solar cycle may require a new perspective- at what point is solar activity truly ‘solar’ as opposed to “controlled by the Galaxy”, is the ‘solar atmosphere’ an intrinsic feature of the Sun or is it a feature of the heliospheric plasma, is it the top, or the bottom of the phenomenon we call the Sun? (17)
References:1. Vassilyeva. G. J. et. al. 1980. Large-scale Magnetic Field Structure at the Earth’s Orbit, its Correlation with Solar Activity and Orientation and Motion of the Solar System in the Galaxy.
Solar and Interplanetary Dynamics, IAU 1980.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1980IAUS...91..167V2. The term, interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is rapidly falling out of usage, being replaced by heliospheric magnetic field (HMF), IMF is retained in this post for continuity and clarity.
3. It may be that the outer planets are intercepting electrons headed to the Sun any cyclical behaviour or influence may be a consequence of this. Are the outer planets really denizens of interstellar space?
4. Shiota. D. et al. 2012, Polar Field Reversal Observations with Hinode,
The Astrophysical Journal, 753:157 (8pp), 2012 July 10
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/753/2/1575. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9.
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_feature/public/thumbnails/image/f_211_193_171_2048_0.jpg10. Webb. D. F. et al. 2012, Global Solar Magnetic Field Evolution Over 4 Solar Cycles: Use of the McIntosh Archive,
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Vol 5: Article 23 (16pp), 2018 July 31
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326718120_Global_Solar_Magnetic_Field_Evolution_Over_4_Solar_Cycles_Use_of_the_McIntosh_Archive11. Akasofu. S-I. 2018. A new consideration on the formation of sunspots,
Physics & Astronomy International Journal, Volume 2, Issue 5, 2018.
https://medcraveonline.com/PAIJ/PAIJ-02-0011812. Howard. R, LaBonte. B. J. 1980. The Sun is observed to be a Torsional Oscillator with a period of 11 years.
The Astrophysical Journal, 239:L33-L36, 1980 July 1
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1980ApJ...239L..33H13. Op cit. 11
14. Op cit. 9
15. Juergens. R. E. 1973. On Cosmic Electricity.
Pensee, Vol. 3 No. 3, IVR V, Fall 1973
16. Provan. G. et al. 2009. Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn’s magnetosphere.
Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 114, A02225, 2009 February 28
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2008JA01378217. Is the Cytherean atmosphere a feature of Venus or a property of the heliospheric plasma or a product of both?