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Long‐term evolution of the magnetic field generated by an ensemble of Rossby vortices
Author(s) -
Tikhomolov E.,
Mordvinov V.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3994(200107)322:3<189::aid-asna189>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - physics , rossby number , vortex , rossby radius of deformation , sunspot , rossby wave , equator , magnetic field , geophysics , mechanics , atmospheric sciences , astronomy , quantum mechanics , turbulence , latitude
The evolution of the large‐scale component of the magnetic field generated by an ensemble of Rossby vortices is numerically simulated. The distribution of the Rossby vortices excited at the beginning of each Carrington rotation is determined from the analysis of Kitt Peak synoptic maps. Our model also considers 11‐year hydrodynamic and 22‐year magnetic field oscillations. In the vicinity of the Rossby vortices, the toroidal magnetic field is significantly amplified and the sign of the angle between the rope of the field lines and the equator is in accordance with observations for “normal” sunspots. We also suggest the possibility of the interpretation by our model of “abnormal” sunspot phenomena. We find that an inverse cascade, namely, the merging of Rossby vortices, gives rise to the formation of large‐scale hydrodynamic structures with a life‐time on the order of a solar cycle period. We conclude from this that the formation of such structures can thus explain the appearance of long‐lived, large‐scale component in the distribution of the magnetic field.