Dark spots that are visible on the surface of the sun that are caused by intense magnetic activity that disrupts convection forming areas of reduced surface temperatures.

Answer 1

The dark spots you are referring to are called sunspots. These are temporary phenomena on the solar photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas. Sunspots are caused by intense magnetic activity that inhibits convection, leading to lower temperatures in those regions compared to the surrounding areas of the sun's surface. They can be quite large and can last for days, weeks, or even months. Sunspots are often associated with solar flares and other solar activities, and their number varies with the solar cycle, which is about 11 years long.