Variation of the Solar He I 10830 A Line: 1977 - 1980

Daily measurements of the equivalent width of the 10830 A He I line integrated over the visible disk show: (1) an increase from about 32 to about 74 mA in the monthly mean values from the minimum to the maximum of the current solar cycle; (2) the monthly mean values are more smoothly varying than most other indices of solar activity; (3) rotation modulates the daily values in a highly variable manner with amplitudes as large as plus or minus 20%; (4) the apparent synodic rotation period is 29 days rather than the expected 27 days associated with active regions; (5) despite great differences in the appearance of the sun in 3933 A Ca I and 10830 A He I, the central intensity of the former correlates with the equivalent width of the latter with a value r = 0.97.