Observations of the sun through the months of
April and May 1998.
(images of the sun provided
courtesy of Learmonth, Australia and Holloman AFB, NewMexico)
It is easy to see evidence
of solar differential rotation when solar features are followed on a daily
basis. Beginning on 98/04/13 observe the elongated region of
sunspots on the lower southern hemisphere. The effect that differential
rotation has on its shape is evident as the faster motion of the equatorial
plasma pulls on the northern half of the sunspot group and pulls it around
so that by 98/04/20 the entire group is leaning in the opposite direction.
A comparison of the positions of bright region on the sun's equator
and the dark area on the southern hemisphere between 98/04/01 and 98/04/05
show the relative speeds of the equator and the poles.