Weather Dictionary / Glossary of Terms

Mount Wilson Magnetic Classifications


   Weather TermDescription / Definition
   Mount Wilson Magnetic Classifications In solar-terrestrial terms, a classification system for sunspots:
  • Alpha: Denotes a unipolar sunspot group.
  • Beta: A sunspot group having both positive and negative magnetic polarities, with a simple and distinct division between the polarities.
  • Beta-Gamma: A sunspot group that is bipolar but in which no continuous line can be drawn separating spots of opposite polarities.
  • Delta: A complex magnetic configuration of a solar sunspot group consisting of opposite polarity umbrae within the same penumbra.
  • Gamma: A complex active region in which the positive and negative polarities are so irregularly distributed as to prevent classification as a bipolar group.


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