Kodaikanal Observatory Unlocks Sun's Magnetic Secrets, Boosts Space Weather Forecasts

• Kodaikanal Solar Observatory data reveals how the Sun's magnetic activity varies across latitudes, a breakthrough for solar dynamo understanding.
• The study, led by IIA researchers, analyzed 11 years of spectroscopic data, showing magnetic activity clusters between 40 degrees north and south latitude.
• Findings indicate consistent zones of heightened activity aligning with the Sun's 11-year sunspot cycle and hemispheric asymmetries.
• This discovery, published in 'Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society', refines solar dynamo models and aids space-weather forecasting.
• Researchers are now exploring combining over a century of spectroscopic and image data, highlighting India's unique edge in solar research.

Why It Matters: Kodaikanal data provides crucial insights into solar magnetism, enhancing space weather and climate models.