Abstract
LIVINGSTON1 has recently measured a decrease in the surface temperature of the Sun coincident with increased solar activity. He interpreted the temperature drop as implying a corresponding reduction in luminosity. I point out here that surface cooling could also be due to a radial expansion of the Sun, with no attendant reduction in luminosity. There is a plausible physical mechanism for such an expansion; namely, variations in magnetic buoyancy due to variations in the magnetic flux in the convection zone over the solar cycle.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Livingston, W. C. Nature 272, 340–341 (1978).
Parker, E. N. Astrophys. J. 121, 491–507 (1955).
Jensen, E. Ann. Astrophys. 18, 127–140 (1955).
Weiss, N. O. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 128, 225–235 (1964).
Harvey, J. W. in Highlights of Astronomy (ed. Müller, E.) Vol. 4, 223–239 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1977).
Galloway, D. J., Proctor, M. R. E. & Weiss, N. O. Nature 266, 686–689 (1977).
Goldberg, L. in The Sun (ed. Kuiper, G. P.) 1–35 (University of Chicago Press, 1953).
Gething, P. J. D. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 115, 558–570 (1955).
Wittmann, A. Solar Phys. 29, 333–340 (1973).
Auwers, A. Astr. Nachr. 128, 367 (1891).
Cullen, R. T. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 86, 344–349 (1926).
Giannuzzi, M. A. Contr. Sci. Oss. Roma, No. 211 (1955).
Meyermann, B. Astr. Nachr. 279, 45–46 (1950).
Hill, H. A., Stebbins, R. T. & Oleson, J. R. Astrophys. J. 200, 484–498 (1975).
Dicke, R. H. & Goldenberg, H. M. Phys. Rev. Lett. 18, 313–316 (1967).
Hill, H. A. & Stebbins, R. T. Astrophys. J. 200, 471–483 (1975).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
THOMAS, J. Variations of the Sun's radius and temperature due to magnetic buoyancy. Nature 280, 662–663 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280662a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/280662a0
This article is cited by
-
Quasiperiodicity in cataclysmic variable stars caused by solar-type magnetic cycles
Nature (1988)
-
The future of solar physics
Solar Physics (1985)
-
Theory of the solar cycle
Solar Physics (1981)
-
A survey of possible effects of long-lasting absence of solar activity on climate and some speculations on possible mechanisms
Climatic Change (1981)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.