SC23 vs. SC24 Minimum Comparison, using MDI & HMI Synoptic Charts

[theartist]

This thread is a continuation of the thread titled, "Synoptic Magnetograms; SC24 Minimum Forecasting".  In this thread, we will compare the Synoptic Maps between the SC23 Minimum epoch and the SC24 Minimum epoch, specifically using the synoptic charts from the MDI for SC23, and from the HMI for SC24.  

The final MDI Synoptic map available is for CR2104 (centered around 2010.12.10), and the first available HMI Synoptic Map is for CR2096 (centered around 2010.05.06).  

 

Because there are differences between the two instruments in their 'sharpness' (pixelation density), we will first visually evaluate a couple of synoptic charts within that range (CR2096 to CR2104) to compare the output between the two instruments mounted on each satellite.

In the figures presented in this thread, the MDI charts will be on the left, and the HMI charts will be on the right.  The following figures are for the purposes of illustration, and I plan to later upload a repository of higher resolution images.

 

       Figure 1.  MDI & HMI Radial Field Synoptic Charts for CR2097.

 

       Figure 2.  MDI & HMI Line-of-Sight (LOS) Synoptic Charts for CR2097.

 

       Figure 3.  MDI & HMI Radial Field Synoptic Charts for CR2103.

 

       Figure 4.  MDI & HMI Line-of-Sight (LOS) Synoptic Charts for CR2103.

 

Higher resolution images for the above figures can be found in the following 'slides' file:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cumWo8TNzSoqww03XIUnexplRF0lCzAKu8g6tNWm7YU/edit#slide=id.g7bab99befb_7_62

(continued below)

Edited December 19, 2019 by theartist
Minor fix, added the word "centered" in 2nd paragraph.

[theartist]

       Figure 5.  The above panel slides present a progression of Carrington Rotation LOS Synoptic Charts, with charts for the SC23/24 transition and the SC24/25 transition on the left and right, respectfully.  The left side of charts covers CR2046 through CR2080 (i.e., Aug 2006-Mar 2009); the right side covers CR2197 through part of CR2225 (i.e., Dec 2017-Dec 2019).

In Figure 5, the panels on the right side (SC24 minimum) are lined up where I theorize temporal equivalency is on the left side (SC23 minimum), putting Dec 2019 alongside Sept 2008. If a (significant in size) dipole magnetic structure manifests above the critical +32deg latitude in the month of December 2019, then temporal equivalency would shift, theorizing Oct '08 being temporally equivalent Dec '19, and the right side panels will shift down one Carrington Rotation. Conversely, if a (significant in size) dipole magnetic structure does not manifest above the critical +32deg latitude by the end of CR2225, then the right side panels need to shift up one Carrington Rotation.

Higher resolution images for the slides in Figure 5 can be found in the following 'slides' file: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QPoa_-thMD2d17wmzbKz0bw4c-0h72DAR6EzscqQpUU/edit?usp=sharing

Edited January 1, 2020 by theartist

[theartist]

I've expanded my research in this activity, by assembling alongside magnetograms from each of the SC22/23, SC23/24 and SC24/25 transitions; two panels, in successive order, from this catalogue look like this:

Figure 6.  The above panel slides present a progression of Carrington Rotation LOS Synoptic Charts, with charts for the SC22/23 transition on the far-left, the SC23/24 transition in the middle, and the SC24/25 transition on the far-right.

In Figure 6, the panels are lined up where I theorize 'temporal equivalency' (in terms of magnetic structure display at latitude) occurs, putting CR2024 (November 2019) alongside CR2074 (September 2008) alongside CR1909 (May 1996). 

Magnetic structures displaying 'next-cycle-polarity' are circled in red; mag-structures displaying 'old-cycle-polarity' are circled in black. 

(Note, not many MDI magnetograms prior to the SC22/23 Solar Minimum Nadir are available, the earliest being CR1909. Also, CR2225, has not yet completed; a partial (the HMI Daily Synoptic Frame for Carrington Rotation 2224-2225') is included (at the bottom right-hand corner of the first panel).

On 12/17/2019 at 8:07 PM, theartist said:

If a (significant in size) dipole magnetic structure manifests above the critical +32deg latitude in the month of December 2019, then temporal equivalency would shift, theorizing Oct '08 being temporally equivalent Dec '19, and the right side panels will shift down one Carrington Rotation.

A photospheric magnetic structure did indeed spill across the -32deg latitude in what is CR2225 (Dec 2019), and the panels were shifted down, accordingly.

Edited January 1, 2020 by theartist