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USSPS

Code USSPS is used to describe sunspot groups.

Example:

 

and

Definition of symbols:

 

USSPS comes from SunSPotS

 

I I I I I = station indicator

 

DD = UT day of observation

HHH = UT time of observation in hours and tenths of hour

 

a a a = relative sunspot number

b = seeing quality

1 = very poor
2 = poor
3 = fair
4 = good
5 = exceptional

c = solar disk size used for measurement

1 = diameter of the solar disk less than 15 cm
2 = diameter of the solar disk between 15 and 30 cm
3 = diameter of the solar disk more than 30 cm
4 = individual sunspot groups at very high resolution

 

d d = serial number of sunspot group

AAA = area of sunspot group in tens of millionths of the solar hemisphere

 

Q = quadrant (heliographic coordinates) in geometric center of sunspot groups is located

1 = NE (northeast)
2 = SE (southeast)
3 = SW (southwest)
4 = NW (northwest)

XX = distance to central meridian in degrees

YY = heliographic latitude in degrees

 

f = type of penumbra in the largest spot in group (Modified Zurich (McIntosh) Sunspot Classification)


0 = no penumbra (Zurich class A or B)
1 = rudimentary (r)
2 = small symmetric (s) north to south diameter < 2.5_
3 = small asymmetric (a) north to south diameter < 2.5_
4 = large symmetric (h) north to south diameter > 2.5_
5 = large asymmetric (k) north to south diameter > 2.5_


g = relative importance of the leading spot and density of the sunspot population

1 = leading spot largest and sunspot population density open
2 = following spot largest and sunspot population density open
3 = leading and following spots nearly same size and sunspot population density open
4 = leading spot largest and sunspot population density intermediate
5 = following spot largest and sunspot population density intermediate
6 = leading and following spot nearly same size and sunspot population density intermediate
7 = leading spot largest and sunspot population density compact
8 = following spot largest and sunspot population density compact
9 = leading and following spot nearly same size and sunspot population density compact

Note: g = / (slant line) for unipolar spots of Zurich class A, H or J

 

h = Zurich sunspot class (Modified Zurich (McIntosh) Sunspot Classification)

1 = A
2 = B
3 = C
4 = D
5 = E
6 = F
7 = G
8 = H
9 = J

Note: Normally G will be encoded as an open E or F and J will be encoded as a small H.

 

i i = number of spots in the group