Phase Relationships Between the CME-Energy Cycle, the Sunspot-Area Cycle and the Flare-Index Cycle

Abstract

We study the phase relationships between the coronal-mass-ejection (CME) energy cycle, the sunspot-area cycle, and the flare-index cycle from 1996 to 2010. The results show the following: i) The activity cycle of the flare index significantly leads the activity cycle of the sunspot area. ii) The activity cycle of the CME energy is inferred to be almost in phase with the activity cycle of the sunspot area; the activity cycle of the CME energy at low latitudes slightly leads the activity cycle of the sunspot area; the CME energy at high latitudes is shown to significantly lag behind the sunspot area. iii) The CME energy is shown to significantly lag behind the flare index; the CME energy at low latitudes is shown to slightly lag behind the flare index; the CME energy at high latitudes is shown to significantly lag behind the flare index.