Asymmetry in the form of solar spots

Abstract

We have analyzed the geometric characteristics of sunspots. The form of sunspots has been studied by sunspot image normalization to obtain the average profile of spots and the profile relative to the position of cores. The deviation of the sunspot form from the axisymmetric configuration has been studied. We have found that the spots of leading and trailing polarities have a drop shape. The cores of leading and trailing sunspots are shifted toward the western and eastern edges of the photosphere–penumbra boundary, respectively. The strength of the magnetic field of the cores of leading spots in the eastern hemisphere exceeds the field strength in the western hemisphere. We considered the tilt of the form of sunspots as a function of size. The form of spots of a large area (S > 1000 ppm of solar hemisphere) is elongated along the magnetic axis of the bipole of a group of sunspots.