The statistical properties of strong sunspot area fluctuations Original Research Article

For each solar hemisphere and for three solar cycles (No. 16, 17, 18) I select the positive fluctuations as sets of successive deviations, of the same sign, of the sunspot areas (per one solar rotation) from their smoothed values. I evaluate all larger sunspot groups (their areas create about 80% of the sunspot areas during one solar rotation) and then I use them to find activity complexes. I also analyse the number and the longitude distributions of activity complexes which create each fluctuation. Finally, I calculate the longitude distribution of activity complexes which create all positive fluctuations and strong positive fluctuations for each of three solar cycles and each solar hemisphere in the Carrington rotation system.