Before doing this lab, use resources from this site or the NASA site to view the features of the Sun, including its interior, photosphere, sunspots, solar cycle, chromosphere and corona (http://www.windows2universe.org/the_universe/the_universe.html).

Unit 7: Sunspots Lab

Materials needed for the lab: Graph paper, pencil and straight edge for doing this lab activity in class or You may do this lab entirely on an Excel spread sheet.

Sunspots are areas of gas on the sun that are cooler than the gases around them.  Some scientists believe that short-term changes in climate on Earth may be related to the sunspot cycles.

Problem: How will you predict the number of sunspots for a future year using existing patterns in sunspots numbers?

Procedure:

  Use the data in the table below to make a graph of sunspot activity between 1967 and 1997.

  On the graph, label the x-axis Year. Use a scale with 2-year intervals from 1967 to 1997.

  Label the y-axis Average Number of Sunspots. Use a scale of 0 through 160 in intervals of 10.

  Graph a point for the average number of sunspots for each year.

  Complete your graph by drawing lines to connect the points.

Sunspots: Table

Year

Average # of Sunspots

1967

93.8
———————–
1969

105.0
———————–
1971

66.6
————————–
1973

38.0
———————–
1975

15.5
————————
1977

27.5
————————-
1979

155.4
——————————
1981

140.4
———————————
1983

66.6
—————————–
1985

17.9
——————————
1987

29.4
—————————-
1989

157.6
—————————-
1991

145.7
———————–
1993

54.6
————————-
1995

17.5
————————–
1997

23.4

  Analyze and Conclude:

  Based on your graph, which years had the highest average number of sunspots? The lowest average number?

  How often does the cycle of maximum and minimum activity repeat?

  When was the most recent maximum sunspot activity? The most recent minimum sunspot activity?

  Using your graph, predict the number of sunspots in the year of your graduation.

Summarize: Describe how the changes in the sunspot cycle can cause climate changes on Earth.