On the distribution and asymmetry of solar active prominences

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study of the distribution and asymmetry of solar active prominences (SAP) for the period 1957 – 1998 (solar cycles 19 – 23). The east-west (E-W) distribution study shows that the frequency of SAP events in the 81 – 90° slice (in longitude) near the east and west limbs is up to 10 times greater than in the 1 – 10° slice near the central meridian of the Sun. The north-south (N-S) latitudinal distribution shows that the SAP events are most prolific in the 11 – 20° slice in the northern and southern hemispheres. Further, the E-W asymmetry of SAP events is not significant. The N-S asymmetry of SAP events is significant and it has no relation with the solar maximum year or solar minimum year during solar cycles. Further, the present study also shows that the N-S asymmetry for cycles 19 – 23 follows and confirms the trend of N-S asymmetry cycles as reported by Verma (1992).