Schwabe

Definition

Schwabe is the name associated with the discovery of the solar cycle, an approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity. Heinrich Schwabe was a German astronomer who first observed this periodic variation in sunspot numbers in the mid-19th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Heinrich Schwabe discovered the solar cycle in 1843 after observing sunspots for 17 years.
2. The solar cycle has an average duration of about 11 years, including periods of maximum and minimum sunspot activity.
3. Schwabe's observations laid the foundation for further studies on solar magnetism and its effects on Earth.
4. The peaks of the solar cycle are known as 'solar maximum,' while the low points are called 'solar minimum.'
5. Schwabe's work was later confirmed and extended by other astronomers, including Rudolf Wolf and Edward Maunder.

Review Questions

• Who discovered the solar cycle and when?
• What is the average duration of a solar cycle?
• What terms are used to describe the peaks and low points of a solar cycle?

Related terms

Solar Maximum: The period during a solar cycle when sunspots and solar activity are at their highest levels.

Solar Minimum: The period during a solar cycle when sunspots and solar activity are at their lowest levels.

Sunspot: A temporary phenomenon on the Sun's photosphere that appears as spots darker than surrounding areas due to lower temperatures.