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Balloon-borne imagery of the solar granulation. II - The lifetime of solar granulationPhenomenological aspects of the temporal evolution of photospheric granulation are reported as derived from time series of granulation photographs obtained during a flight of a balloon-borne telescope. The distribution of granule lifetime probabilities is determined, and it is found that the data can be represented by an exponential decrease with a 'decay constant' of 5.9 min. The general properties of granular evolution are described along with the way individual granules evolve with time. The most common type of granule is shown to be a medium-sized or small fragment, and it is suggested that all granules are produced by fragmentation of preexisting granules. The relative frequencies of granule destruction by fragmentation, fading, and merging are determined to be 51%, 21%, and 28%, respectively. An average radial velocity of 0.8 km/s is computed for conglomerates with an average diameter of 2.25 arcsec.
Document ID
19780041170
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mehltretter, J. P.
(Fraunhofer Institut Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Publication Information
Publication: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume: 62
Issue: 3, Ja
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
78A25079
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: BMFT-WRK-29
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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