Sunspot Number (SSN) Basic Information and trends

Here is a graph I made that displays sunspot numbers over the years This data was collected from 1750- 2014- this does not mean that there were not sunspots prior to this, data was just not collected for this in this particular metadata Indicated by the legend in the top right corner Ssn- sunspot number can be seen in blue Dev – deviation in red

Basic Overview What are Sunspot Numbers? The sunspot number is calculated how? R=k (10g+s) The sunspot number is calculated how? by first counting the number of sunspot groups and then the number of individual sunspots this formula for counting sunspots gives reliable numbers even when the observing conditions are less than ideal and small spots are hard to see the number of sunspots visible on the sun waxes and wanes with an approximate 11-year cycle. R=k (10g+s), R is the sunspot number; g is the number of sunspot groups on the solar disk; s is the total number of individual spots in all the groups; k is a variable scaling factor (usually <1)

Plotting Patterns? Notice any trends? Compare to the graph shown in previous slide. Sunspot activity is cyclical and reaches its maximum around every 9.5 to 11 years Peak in graphs every 10ish years Monthly averages of the sunspot numbers show that the number of sunspots visible on the sun increases and decreases with an approximate 11-year cycle