The nature of microturbulence in the solar photosphere

It is shown that the increase in apparent Doppler width as the limb is approached is a natural consequence of the fact that the solar atmosphere is not homogeneous. The work on the sodium D line cores which assumes the solar atmosphere to be homogeneous is reviewed. It appears that the cores of the sodium D lines have been distorted by fluctuations in the solar atmosphere in a systematic manner. It is concluded that the increase in apparent Doppler width observed in the sodium D line is a natural consequence of the temperature fluctuations in the solar atmosphere. The presence of a velocity field is not required to produce this effect.