The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations
In addition to the regular Schwabe cycles of approximately 11 y, “prolonged solar activity minima” have been identified through the direct observation of sunspots and aurorae, as well as proxy data of cosmogenic isotopes. Some of these prolonged minima have been regarded as grand solar minima, which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate |
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| Online Access: | https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2021/01/swsc200101/swsc200101.html |
| _version_ | 1797951265798356992 |
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| author | Silverman Sam M. Hayakawa Hisashi |
| author_facet | Silverman Sam M. Hayakawa Hisashi |
| author_sort | Silverman Sam M. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In addition to the regular Schwabe cycles of approximately 11 y, “prolonged solar activity minima” have been identified through the direct observation of sunspots and aurorae, as well as proxy data of cosmogenic isotopes. Some of these prolonged minima have been regarded as grand solar minima, which are arguably associated with the special state of the solar dynamo and have attracted significant scientific interest. In this paper, we review how these prolonged solar activity minima have been identified. In particular, we focus on the Dalton Minimum, which is named after John Dalton. We review Dalton’s scientific achievements, particularly in geophysics. Special emphasis is placed on his lifelong observations of auroral displays over approximately five decades in Great Britain. Dalton’s observations for the auroral frequency allowed him to notice the scarcity of auroral displays in the early 19th century. We analyze temporal variations in the annual frequency of such displays from a modern perspective. The contemporary geomagnetic positions of Dalton’s observational site make his dataset extremely valuable because his site is located in the sub-auroral zone and is relatively sensitive to minor enhancements in solar eruptions and solar wind streams. His data indicate clear solar cycles in the early 19th century and their significant depression from 1798 to 1824. Additionally, his data reveal a significant spike in auroral frequency in 1797, which chronologically coincides with the “lost cycle” that is arguably located at the late Solar Cycle 4. Therefore, John Dalton’s achievements can still benefit modern science and help us improve our understanding of the Dalton Minimum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:27:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d56bb344c1474d26bfb4940879d0bb27 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2115-7251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:27:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate |
| spelling | doaj.art-d56bb344c1474d26bfb4940879d0bb272023-01-17T09:10:25ZengEDP SciencesJournal of Space Weather and Space Climate2115-72512021-01-01111710.1051/swsc/2020082swsc200101The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral ObservationsSilverman Sam M.Hayakawa Hisashi0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5370-3365Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityIn addition to the regular Schwabe cycles of approximately 11 y, “prolonged solar activity minima” have been identified through the direct observation of sunspots and aurorae, as well as proxy data of cosmogenic isotopes. Some of these prolonged minima have been regarded as grand solar minima, which are arguably associated with the special state of the solar dynamo and have attracted significant scientific interest. In this paper, we review how these prolonged solar activity minima have been identified. In particular, we focus on the Dalton Minimum, which is named after John Dalton. We review Dalton’s scientific achievements, particularly in geophysics. Special emphasis is placed on his lifelong observations of auroral displays over approximately five decades in Great Britain. Dalton’s observations for the auroral frequency allowed him to notice the scarcity of auroral displays in the early 19th century. We analyze temporal variations in the annual frequency of such displays from a modern perspective. The contemporary geomagnetic positions of Dalton’s observational site make his dataset extremely valuable because his site is located in the sub-auroral zone and is relatively sensitive to minor enhancements in solar eruptions and solar wind streams. His data indicate clear solar cycles in the early 19th century and their significant depression from 1798 to 1824. Additionally, his data reveal a significant spike in auroral frequency in 1797, which chronologically coincides with the “lost cycle” that is arguably located at the late Solar Cycle 4. Therefore, John Dalton’s achievements can still benefit modern science and help us improve our understanding of the Dalton Minimum.https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2021/01/swsc200101/swsc200101.htmlauroradalton minimumjohn daltonscientific historysolar cyclesthe lost cycle |
| spellingShingle | Silverman Sam M. Hayakawa Hisashi The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate aurora dalton minimum john dalton scientific history solar cycles the lost cycle |
| title | The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations |
| title_full | The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations |
| title_fullStr | The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations |
| title_short | The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations |
| title_sort | dalton minimum and john dalton s auroral observations |
| topic | aurora dalton minimum john dalton scientific history solar cycles the lost cycle |
| url | https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2021/01/swsc200101/swsc200101.html |
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