On the constancy of the solar diameter

Citation
M. Emilio et al., On the constancy of the solar diameter, ASTROPHYS J, 543(2), 2000, pp. 1007-1010
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004637X → ACNP
Volume
543
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Part
1
Pages
1007 - 1010
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(20001110)543:2<1007:OTCOTS>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Why does the solar luminosity vary and could it change on human timescales by enough to affect terrestrial climate? As important: as these questions a re, we lack answers because we do not understand the physical mechanisms re sponsible for the solar irradiance cycle. Progress here depends on discover ing how changes in the solar interior affect energy flow from the radiative and convection zones out through the photosphere. Measurements of small ch anges in the solar radius are a critical probe of the Sun's interior strati fication; they can tell us how and where the solar luminosity is gated or s tored. Here we report results from a sensitive 3 yr satellite experiment de signed to detect solar diameter fluctuations.