Solar cycle 19 was the nineteenth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began.[1][2] The solar cycle lasted 10.5 years, beginning in April 1954 and ending in October 1964. The International Geophysical Year occurred at the peak of this solar cycle.
| Solar cycle 19 | |
|---|---|
 A solar prominence during solar cycle 19 (11 April 1959). | |
| Sunspot data | |
| Start date | April 1954 |
| End date | October 1964 |
| Duration (years) | 10.5 |
| Max count | 285.0 |
| Max count month | March 1958 |
| Min count | 5.1 |
| Spotless days | 227 |
| Cycle chronology | |
| Previous cycle | Solar cycle 18 (1944–1954) |
| Next cycle | Solar cycle 20 (1964–1976) |
The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 285.0, in March 1958 (the highest on record[3]), and the starting minimum was 5.1.[4]
During the minimum transit from solar cycle 19 to 20, there were a total of 227 days with no sunspots. This was the lowest number since 1850.[5][6][7]
Extreme events
editA geomagnetic storm in February 1956 interfered with radio communications and prompted a search for the British submarine Acheron after it lost radio contact.[8]
Intense red aurora displays frightened people in Europe on 11 February 1958 and were visible from many US cities as far south as the 40th parallel. This geomagnetic storm caused a radio blackout over North America.
Aurora displays were visible over New York on 13 November 1960 and 1 October 1961.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kane, R.P. (2002), "Some Implications Using the Group Sunspot Number Reconstruction", Solar Physics, 205 (2): 383–401, Bibcode:2002SoPh..205..383K, doi:10.1023/A:1014296529097
- ^ "The Sun: Did You Say the Sun Has Spots?". Space Today Online. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ Dodson, Helen W.; Hedeman, E. Ruth; Mohler, Orren C. (August 1974). "Comparison of activity in solar cycles 18, 19, and 20". Reviews of Geophysics. 12 (3): 329–341. Bibcode:1974RvGSP..12..329D. doi:10.1029/RG012i003p00329.
- ^ SIDC Monthly Smoothed Sunspot Number. "[1]"
- ^ Spotless Days. "[2]"
- ^ Dr. Tony Phillips (11 July 2008). "What's Wrong with the Sun? (Nothing)". NASA. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008.
- ^ Solaemon's Spotless Days Page. "[3]"
- ^ Amsterdam Evening Recorder, 24 February 1956
- ^ Storms, Solar (28 July 2017). "Space Weather Newspaper Archives". www.solarstorms.org.
