Recent advances in observations and modeling of the solar ultraviolet and X-ray spectral irradiance

There have been significant, recent advances in understanding the solar ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray spectral irradiance from several different satellite missions and from new efforts in modeling the variations of the solar spectral irradiance. The recent satellite missions with solar UV and X-ray spectral irradiance observations include the X-ray Sensor (XRS) aboard the series of NOAA GOES spacecraft, the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), the SOHO Solar EUV Monitor (SEM), the Solar XUV Photometers (SXP) on the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE), the Solar EUV Experiment (SEE) aboard the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Dynamics, and Energetics (TIMED) satellite, and the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite. The combination of these measurements is providing new results on the variability of the solar ultraviolet irradiance throughout the ultraviolet range shortward of 200 nm and over a wide range of time scales ranging from years to seconds. The solar UV variations of flares are especially important for space weather applications and upper atmosphere research, and the period of intense solar storms in October–November 2003 has provided a wealth of new information about solar flares. The new efforts in modeling these solar UV spectral irradiance variations range from simple empirical models that use solar proxies to more complicated physics-based models that use emission measure techniques. These new models provide better understanding and insight into why the solar UV irradiance varies, and they can be used at times when solar observations are not available for atmospheric studies.     

Solar radiometry: Spectral irradiance measurements

The present measurement accuracy of the solar spectral irradiance is insufficient to derive the real long-term solar spectral irradiance variability at all wavelengths. Possible error sources are discussed. A series of new second generation solar irradiance photometers are now under construction which should considerably improve these measurements. At the same time, efforts are made to improve the absolute UV calibration methods to derive a unified UV radiation scale.     

The variability of the sun's ultraviolet radiation

The intensity of continua and emission lines which form the solar UV spectrum below 2100 Å is variable. Continua and emission lines originating from different layers in the solar atmosphere show a different degree of variability. Coronal emission lines at short wavelengths are much more variable than continua at longer wavelengths which originate in lower layers of the solar atmosphere. Typical time-scales of solar UV variability are minutes (flare induced), days (birth of active regions), 27 days (solar rotation), 11 years (solar cycle) and perhaps centuries, caused by long-term changes of the solar activity. UV intensity variations have been determined by either absolute irradiance measurements or by contrast measurements of plages vs. the quiet sun. Plages are the main contributor to the solar UV variability. Typical values for the solar UV variability over a solar cycle are: <1% at wavelengths longer than 2100 Å, 8% at 2080 Å (continuum), 20% at 1900 Å (continuum), 70% at H Lyα, 200% in certain emission lines 1200 < λ < 1800 Å and more than a factor of 4 in coronal lines λ < 1000 Å. Plage models predict the variable component of the solar UV radiation within ±50%. Absolute fluxes are known within ±30%. Several efforts are underway to monitor the solar UV irradiance with a precision better than a few percent over a solar activity cycle.     

太阳辐照度下降的有效黑子模式和太阳辐照度可变性的有效光球活动区模式

本文作者提出了描述太阳辐照度下降的新模式--有效黑子模式;对1980年4月1日至7月16日的北京天文台黑子照片进行了保守测量;就有效黑子模式计算出的太阳辐照度与同一时期"太阳峰年使者"卫星观测到的太阳总辐照度进行了比较,两者在数值上非常接近,并且呈甚佳线性相关;进而提出了描述太阳辐照度可变性的新模式--有效光球活动区模式;从而在上述基础上提出了今后应继续的工作。      

Total solar and spectral irradiance variations from solar cycles 21 to 23

Total solar and UV irradiances have been measured from various space platforms for more than two decades. More recently, observations of the “Variability of solar IRradiance and Gravity Oscillations” (VIRGO) experiment on SOHO provided information about spectral irradiance variations in the near-UV at 402 nm, visible at 500 nm, and near-IR at 862 nm. Analyses based on these space-borne irradiance measurements have convinced the skeptics that solar irradiance at various wavelengths and in the entire spectrum is changing with the waxing and waning solar activity. The main goal of this paper is to review the short- and long-term variations in total solar and spectral irradiances and their relation to the evolution of magnetic fields from solar cycles 21 to 23.     

Solar irradiance forecast and far-side imaging

This paper presents a new approach to forecasting short-term Lyα solar irradiance variations due to the presence and evolution of magnetically heated regions in the Sun’s outer atmosphere. This scheme is based on images of the solar disk at key wavelengths, currently Ca II K filtergrams, maps of backscattered solar Lyα from the interplanetary medium, and helioseismic images of large far-side active regions. The combination of these resources allows accurate forecasts of the UV solar irradiance several days in advance. The technique takes into consideration the evolution of recently observed activity on the Sun’s near surface as well as active regions on the Sun’s far side. The far-side helioseismic maps and the Lyα backscattering are very important, because of the long period of time features spend on the Sun’s far side compared with their typical evolution time and their relatively sudden appearance on the near side. We describe the basics of the forecasting technique and apply it to a case study that shows how the technique dramatically improves Lyα irradiance forecasting. An extension of the technique described here promises realistic forecasts of the entire FUV/EUV solar spectral irradiance spectrum.     

Model simulations of the impact of the 27-day solar rotation period on stratospheric ozone and temperature

Results are presented from two-year simulations of the effects of short-term solar ultraviolet (UV) variability using the Met. Office coupled chemistry-climate model. The model extends from the ground to 0.1 mbar and contains a complete range of chemical reactions allowing representation of all the main ozone formation and destruction processes in the stratosphere. The simulations were achieved by incorporating a 27-day oscillation in the pre-calculated model photolysis rates. Amplitudes for this signal were determined using solar spectral UV observations from the SOLar STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) instrument. Two experiments were carried out, one in which the UV variability was included in both the photolysis and radiation schemes and one in which only the photolysis scheme was modified.

The model reproduced several main features of observed correlations between short-term solar UV variability and both ozone and temperature in the tropical upper stratosphere, including the downward propagation of the phase lag and sensitivities of ozone and temperature to solar UV which are similar in magnitude to those observed. In the lower stratosphere, the ozone response to solar UV variability has not been well characterised from observations. Both model runs show a reversal of the propagation of phase lag below 10mb. The model response was found to be different between the two runs indicating that radiatively induced dynamical effects may play a significant role in the ozone response to solar UV variability.     

Changes in surface UV solar irradiance and ozone over the balkans during the eclipse of August 11, 1999

Intensive measurements of UV solar irradiance, total ozone and surface ozone were carried out during the solar eclipse of 11 August 1999 at Thessaloniki, Greece and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, located very close to the footprint of the moon's shadow during the solar eclipse with the maximum coverage of the solar disk reaching about 90% and 96% respectively. It is shown that during the eclipse the diffuse component is reduced less compared to the decline of the direct solar irradiance at the shorter wavelengths. A 20-minute oscillation of erythemal UV-B solar irradiance was observed before and after the time of the eclipse maximum under clear skies, indicating a possible 20-minute fluctuation in total ozone presumably caused by the eclipse induced gravity waves. The surface ozone measurements at Thessaloniki display a decrease of around 10–15 ppbv during the solar eclipse. Similarly, ozone profile measurements with a lidar system indicate a decrease of ozone up to 2 km during the solar eclipse. The eclipse offered the opportunity to test our understanding of tropospheric ozone chemistry. The use of a chemical box model suggested that photochemistry can account for a significant portion of the observed surface ozone decrease.     

Scientific requirements for future spatially resolved white-light and broad-band high-cadence observations of the Sun

Several important issues are open in the field of solar variability and they wait their solution which up to now was attempted using critical ground-based instrumentations. However, accurate photometric data are attainable only from space. New observational material should be collected with high enough spatial and spectral resolution, covering the whole visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum as well infrared and ultraviolet to reconstruct the total solar irradiance: (1) the absolute contributions of different small-scale structural entities of the solar atmosphere from the white light flares and from micro-flares are still poorly known; (2) we do not know the absolute contributions of different structural elements of the solar atmosphere to the long-term and to the cyclic variations of the solar irradiance, including features of the polar regions of the Sun; (3) the variations of the chromospheric magnetic network are still poorly evaluated; (4) only scarce information is available about the spectral variations of different small-scale features in the high photosphere. Variability of the Sun in white light can be studied with higher spectral, spatial and time resolution using space-born telescopes, which are more appropriate for this purpose than ground based observatories because of better seeing conditions, no interference of the terrestrial atmosphere and a more precise calibration procedure. Scientific requirements for such observations and the possible experimental tools proposed for their solution. Suggested solar studies have broader astrophysical importance.     

Total solar irradiance and climate

The solar radiation is the fundamental source of energy that drives the Earth’s climate and sustains life. The variability of this output certainly affects our planet. In the last two decades an enormous advance in the understanding of the variability of the solar irradiance has been achieved. Space-based measurements indicate that the total solar irradiance changes at various time scales, from minutes to the solar cycle.Climate models show that total solar irradiance variations can account for a considerable part of the temperature variation of the Earth’s atmosphere in the pre-industrial era. During the 20th century its relative influence on the temperature changes has descended considerably. This means that other sources of solar activity as well as internal and man-made causes are contributing to the Earth’s temperature variability, particularly the former in the 20th century.Some very challenging questions concerning total solar irradiance variations and climate have been raised: are total solar irradiance variations from cycle to cycle well represented by sunspot and facular changes? Does total solar irradiance variations always parallel the solar activity cycle? Is there a long-term variation of the total solar irradiance, and closely related to this, is the total solar irradiance output of the quiet sun constant? If there is not a long-term trend of total solar irradiance variations, then we need amplifying mechanisms of total solar irradiance to account for the good correlations found between total solar irradiance and climate. The latter because the observed total solar irradiance changes are inconsequential when introduced in present climate models.     

Solar cycle evolution of the contrast of small photospheric magnetic elements

Solar irradiance variations produced on the solar rotation time-scale are known to be driven by the passage of active regions while, during the last years, the origin of variations on the solar cycle time-scale has been under debate. Nowadays, there is an agreement that the magnetic network has an important contribution to these long-term variations, although it has not been fully quantified. This important role motivated us to study its physical properties along the solar cycle, such as contrast and population. We combine magnetograms and intensity images from the MDI instrument on board the SOHO spacecraft to analyze the radiative properties of small magnetic elements. We determine the contrast of faculae and network elements as a function of position over the disk, magnetic flux and time, finding that these elements exhibit a very different center-to-limb variation of the contrast. This implies that their contribution to irradiance variability is distinct. By extending this analysis through the rising phase of solar cycle 23, we conclude that the functional dependence of the contrast of small elements results to be time independent, implying that the physical properties of the underlying flux tubes may not vary with time. We decompose magnetograms into two structures identifying both faculae and network features and we examine their populations along the solar cycle.     

A survey for photometric variability from space

A survey for photometric variability in a wide variety of astronomical objects would produce much new information about their interiors and dynamics. This paper discusses reasons for such a survey, showing the example of the recent precise SMM observations of total solar irradiance variations as a guide to what might be expected from main-sequence stars, and proposes a concept for a satellite dedicated to a survey of photometric variability.     

Solar UV irradiance variation during cycles 22 and 23

The Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM) aboard the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) has been measuring solar UV irradiances since October 1991, a period which includes the decline of solar cycle 22 followed by the rise of cycle 23. Daily solar measurements include scans over the wavelength range 115–410 nm at 1.1 nm resolution. As expected, the measured time series of UV irradiances exhibit strong periodicities in solar cycle and solar rotation. For all wavelengths, the UV irradiance time series are similar to that of the Mg II core-to-wing ratio. During solar cycle 22, the irradiance of the strong Ly- line varied by more than a factor of two. The peak-to-peak irradiance variation declined with increasing wavelength, reaching 10% just below the Al edge at 208 nm. Between the Al edge and 250 nm the variation was 6–7%. Above 250 nm, the variation declines further until none is observed above 290 nm. Preliminary results for the first portion of cycle 23 indicate that the far UV below the Al edge is rising at about the same rate as the Mg II index while the irradiances in the Ly- emission line and for wavelengths longer than the Al edge are rising more slowly — even after accounting for the lower level of activity of cycle 23.     

Reconstruction of solar UV irradiance

Understanding solar influence on the Earth’s climate requires a reconstruction of solar irradiance for the pre-satellite period. Considerable advances have been made in modelling the irradiance variations at wavelengths longer than 200 nm. At shorter wavelengths, however, the LTE approximation usually taken in such models fails, which makes a reconstruction of the solar UV irradiance a rather intricate problem. We choose an alternative approach and use the observed SUSIM UV spectra to extrapolate available models to shorter wavelengths.     

Sun CubE OnE: A multi-wavelength synoptic solar micro satellite

The Sun cubE onE (SEE) is a 12U CubeSat mission proposed for a phase A/B study to the Italian Space Agency that will investigate Gamma and X-ray fluxes and ultraviolet (UV) solar emission to support studies in Sun-Earth interaction and Space Weather from LEO. More in detail, SEE’s primary goals are to measure the flares emission from soft-X to Gamma ray energy range and to monitor the solar activity in the Fraunhofer Mg II doublet at 280 nm, taking advantage of a full disk imager payload. The Gamma and X-ray fluxes will be studied with unprecedented temporal resolution and with a multi-wavelength approach thanks to the combined use of silicon photodiode and silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) -based detectors. The flare spectrum will be explored from the keV to the MeV range of energies by the same payload, and with a cadence up to 10 kHz and with single-photon detection capabilities to unveil the sources of the solar flares. The energy range covers the same bands used by GOES satellites, which are the standard bands for flare magnitude definition. At the same time SiPM detectors combined with scintillators allow to cover the non-thermal bremsstrahlung emission in the gamma energy range. Given its UV imaging capabilities, SEE will be a key space asset to support detailed studies on solar activity, especially in relation to ultraviolet radiation which strongly interacts with the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, and in relation to space safety, included in the field of human space exploration. The main goal for the UV payload is to study the evolution of the solar UV emission in the Mg II band at two different time scales: yearly variations along the solar cycle and transient variations during flare events. The Mg II index is commonly used as a proxy of the solar activity in the Sun-as-a-star paradigm, in which solar irradiance variations in the UV correlate with the variations in stratospheric ozone concentrations and other physical parameters of the Earth high atmosphere. SEE data will be used together with space and ground-based observatories that provide Solar data (e.g. Solar Orbiter, IRIS, GONG, TSST), high energy particle fluxes (e.g. GOES, MAXI, CSES) and geomagnetic data in a multi-instrument/multi-wavelength/multi-messenger approach.     

Distinct EUV minimum of the solar irradiance (16–40 nm) observed by SolACES spectrometers onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in August/September 2009

In the field of terrestrial climatology the continuous monitoring of the solar irradiance with highest possible accuracy is an important goal. SolACES as a part of the ESA mission SOLAR on the ISS is measuring the short-wavelength solar EUV irradiance from 16–150 nm. This data will be made available to the scientific community to investigate the impact of the solar irradiance variability on the Earth’s climate as well as the thermospheric/ionospheric interactions that are pursued in the TIGER program. Since the successful launch with the shuttle mission STS-122 on February 7th, 2008, SolACES initially recorded the low EUV irradiance during the extended solar activity minimum. Thereafter it has been observing the EUV irradiance during the increasing solar activity with enhanced intensity and changing spectral composition. SolACES consists of three grazing incidence planar grating spectrometers. In addition there are two three-signal ionisation chambers, each with exchangeable band-pass filters to determine the absolute EUV fluxes repeatedly during the mission. One important problem of space-borne instrumentation recording the solar EUV irradiance is the degradation of the spectrometer sensitivity. The two double ionisation chambers of SolACES, which could be re-filled with three different gases for each recording, allow the recalibration of the efficiencies of the three SolACES spectrometers from time to time.     

Local-area helioseismology as a diagnostic tool for solar variability

Dynamical and thermal variations of the internal structure of the Sun can affect the energy flow and result in variations in irradiance at the surface. Studying variations in the interior is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of the irradiance variations. “Global” helioseismology based on analysis of normal mode frequencies, has helped to reveal radial and latitudinal variations of the solar structure and dynamics associated with the solar cycle in the deep interior. A new technique, - “local-area” helioseismology or heliotomography, offers additional potentially important diagnostics by providing three-dimensional maps of the sound speed and flows in the upper convection zone. These diagnostics are based on inversion of travel times of acoustic waves which propagate between different points on the solar surface through the interior. The most significant variations in the thermodynamic structure found by this method are associated with sunspots and complexes of solar activity. The inversion results provide evidence for areas of higher sound speed beneath sunspot regions located at depths of 4–20 Mm, which may be due to accumulated heat or magnetic field concentrations. However, the physics of these structures is not yet understood. Heliotomography also provides information about large-scale stable longitudinal structures in the solar interior, which can be used in irradiance models. This new diagnostic tool for solar variability is currently under development. It will require both a substantial theoretical and modeling effort and high-resolution data to develop new capabilities for understanding mechanisms of solar variability.     

SCIAMACHY solar irradiance observation in the spectral range from 240 to 2380 nm

The SCanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) is part of the payload of ESA’s Environmental Satellite ENVISAT which was launched into a sun-synchronous polar orbit on 2002-03-01. It is the first spaceborne instrument covering a wavelength range from 240 to 2380 nm thus including ultraviolet, visible and near infrared spectral regions.The main purpose of SCIAMACHY is to determine the amount and distribution of a large number of atmospheric trace constituents by measuring the radiance backscattered from the Earth. In addition, several solar observations are performed with daily or orbital frequency.The presented results will cover the following topics: (a) comparison of the solar irradiance measured by SCIAMACHY with data from the instruments SOLSPEC/SOLSTICE/SUSIM and a solar spectrum derived by Kurucz; (b) comparison of the SCIAMACHY solar Mg II index with GOME and NOAA data; (c) correlation of the relative change of solar irradiance measured by SCIAMACHY with the sun spot index.The mean solar irradiance for each of the 8 SCIAMACHY channels agrees with the Kurucz data within ±2–3%. The presented analysis proves that SCIAMACHY is a valuable tool to monitor solar irradiance variations.     

Comparison of solar soft X-ray irradiance from broadband photometers to a high spectral resolution rocket observation

The solar soft X-ray (XUV; 1–30 nm) radiation is highly variable on all time scales and strongly affects the ionosphere and upper atmosphere of Earth, Mars, as well as the atmospheres and surfaces of other planets and moons in the solar system; consequently, the solar XUV irradiance is important for atmospheric studies and for space weather applications. While there have been several recent measurements of the solar XUV irradiance, detailed understanding of the solar XUV irradiance, especially its variability during flares, has been hampered by the lack of high spectral resolution measurements in this wavelength range. The conversion of the XUV photometer signal into irradiance requires the use of a solar spectral model, but there has not been direct validation of these spectral models for the XUV range. For example, the irradiance algorithm for the XUV Photometer System (XPS) measurements uses multiple CHIANTI spectral models, but validation has been limited to other solar broadband measurements or with comparisons of the atmospheric response to solar variations. A new rocket observation of the solar XUV irradiance with 0.1 nm resolution above 6 nm was obtained on 14 April 2008, and these new results provide a first direct validation of the spectral models used in the XPS data processing. The rocket observation indicates very large differences for the spectral model for many individual emission features, but the differences are significantly smaller at lower resolution, as expected since the spectral models are scaled to match the broadband measurements. While this rocket measurement can help improve a spectral model for quiet Sun conditions, many additional measurements over a wide range of solar activity are needed to fully address the spectral model variations. Such measurements are planned with a similar instrument included on NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), whose launch is expected in 2009.     

Variability in the solar constant from irradiances shortward of Lyman-Alpha

The variation in the solar constant, S(t), is reproduced by the SOLAR2000 Research Grade v1.05 empirical solar irradiance model and is described for 5 solar cycles between cycles 18 and 23 (February 14, 1947 through May 31, 2000). This solar constant variation is dependent upon the derivation data sets and the formulation of SOLAR2000 which are described in more detail. The S(t) temporal variability in SOLAR2000 is shown for the solar spectrum between 1–122 nm. The variability is consistent with previous discussions in the literature and a new result is shown where the 1–122 nm wavelength range accounts for about 5–14% of the standard deviation reported in the ASTM E-490 standard. The minimum-maximum range of S(t) variation due to 1–122 nm variability is between 1367.2768 Wm⁻² on 1986-152 and 1367.2877 Wm⁻² on 1957-340. The mean S(t) in these data is 1367.2796 Wm⁻².