AST-138intermediate

Sunspots & Solar Magnetism: Physical Mechanisms

Sunspots are relatively cool, dark regions of the photosphere associated with intense magnetic fields. Sunspots serve as visible tracers of the solar magnetic cycle and help identify regions where flares and coronal mass ejections are more likely.

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intermediate45 minFact checked

Sunspots & Solar Magnetism: Physical Mechanisms

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AST-137Sunspots & Solar Magnetism: Structures & Vocabulary→

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AST-139Sunspots & Solar Magnetism: Observation, Measurement & Evidence→

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Sunspots are relatively cool, dark regions of the photosphere associated with intense magnetic fields.

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The Sun's electrically conducting plasma and differential rotation stretch, shear, and regenerate magnetic fields through dynamo processes.

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Spectropolarimetric observations measure strong magnetic fields in sunspots, and the Zeeman effect splits spectral lines in proportion to field strength.