Confirmation of a 152 day periodicity in the occurrence of solar flares inferred from microwave data

Evidence for a periodicity of about 155 + or - 5 days in the production of energetic solar flares was reported in 1984 by Rieger et al. and Kiplinger et al. To see whether this periodicity is a persistent phenomenon, the occurrences of flares inferred from microwave data, which are available for most of the present and previous solar cycles, were examined. Strong confirmation of a 152 day periodicity in the time interval previously studied is found, demonstrating that these flares are a useful indicator for the observed periodicity. Evidence is found for persistence of the periodicity in the previous cycle (cycle 20). In cycle 20 the periodic modulation of the flare occurrence rate was weaker than in cycle 21, but the phase has apparently remained coherent through both cycles.