Question

What statements accurately describe sunspots? Check all that apply.

Sunspots are storms on the Sun’s surface.
Sunspots are marked by intense magnetic activity.
Sunspots produce solar flares and hot gassy ejections.
Sunspots can affect Earth’s climate.
Sunspots are cool areas where the Sun is covered by clouds.

Answer 1

Correct answers (with brief notes):

- Sunspots are storms on the Sun’s surface. — False.
They are not "storms" themselves but are regions of concentrated magnetic field; they can be associated with solar storms (flares/CMEs).

- Sunspots are marked by intense magnetic activity. — True.
Sunspots are places of very strong magnetic fields that inhibit convection.

- Sunspots produce solar flares and hot gassy ejections. — True (more precisely: flare/CMEs often originate in active regions around sunspots).

- Sunspots can affect Earth’s climate. — True (but the effect is small).
Long-term changes in sunspot activity alter solar irradiance and have been linked to modest climate variations (e.g., Maunder Minimum).

- Sunspots are cool areas where the Sun is covered by clouds. — False.
Sunspots are cooler than the surrounding photosphere, but not caused by clouds; the cooling comes from magnetic suppression of convection.