Post by jmeansengr on May 3, 2011 18:30:13 GMT
How are they calculating the sun spot numbers?
i.e.
For May 2 there was one sun spot #1203 and the sunspot number was 57
For May 3 there are 4 sun spots #1200, 1203, 1204, and 1205 but the sunspot number is 51
The equation they give is R=k (10g+s)
where 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; and k is a variable scaling factor (usually <1) that accounts for observing conditions and the type of telescope (binoculars, space telescopes, etc.). Scientists combine data from lots of observatories -- each with its own k factor -- to arrive at a daily value.
so unless k varies VERY widely, the sunspot numbers they are giving us appear to be bunk.
Please help. How large can k get? during the deep solar minimum k was almost never less than 1...
i.e.
For May 2 there was one sun spot #1203 and the sunspot number was 57
For May 3 there are 4 sun spots #1200, 1203, 1204, and 1205 but the sunspot number is 51
The equation they give is R=k (10g+s)
where 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; and k is a variable scaling factor (usually <1) that accounts for observing conditions and the type of telescope (binoculars, space telescopes, etc.). Scientists combine data from lots of observatories -- each with its own k factor -- to arrive at a daily value.
so unless k varies VERY widely, the sunspot numbers they are giving us appear to be bunk.
Please help. How large can k get? during the deep solar minimum k was almost never less than 1...