Exploring the Temporal Variation of the Solar Quadrupole Moment J2

Abstract

Recently, Rozelot & Eren pointed out that the first solar gravitational moment (J₂) might exhibit a temporal variation. The suggested explanation is through the temporal variation of the solar rotation with latitude. This issue is deeper developed due to an accurate knowledge of the long-term variations in solar differential rotation regarding solar activity. Here we analyze solar cycles 12–24, investigating the long-term temporal variations in solar differential rotation. It is shown that J₂ exhibits a net modulation over the 13 studied cycles of ≈(89.6 ± 0.1) yr, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of ≈0.1 × 10⁻⁷ for a reference value of 2.07 × 10⁻⁷). Moreover, J₂ exhibits a positive linear trend in the period of minima solar activity (sunspot number up to around 40) and a marked declining trend in the period of maxima (sunspot number above 50). In absolute magnitude, the mean value of J₂ is more significant during periods of minimum than in periods of maximum. These findings are based on observational results that are not free of errors and can be refined further by considering torsional oscillations for example. They are comforted by identifying a periodic variation of the J₂ term evidenced through the analysis of the perihelion precession of planetary orbits either deduced from ephemerides or computed in the solar equatorial coordinate system instead of the ecliptic coordinate one usually used.