Large-scale solar cycle features of solar photospheric magnetic field

It is well accepted that the solar cycle originates from a magnetohydrodynamics dynamo deep inside the Sun. Many dynamo models have long been proposed based on a lot of observational constraints. In this paper, using 342 NSO/Kitt Peak solar synoptic charts we study the solar cycle phases in different solar latitudinal zones to set further constraints. Our results can be summarized as follows: (1) The variability of solar polar regions' area has a correlation with total unsigned magnetic flux in advance of 5 years. (2) The high-latitude region mainly appears unipolar in the whole solar cycle and its flux peak time lags sunspot cycle for 3 years. (3) For the activity belt, it is not surprised that its phase be the same as sunspot's. (4) The flux peak time of the low-latitude region shifts forward with an average gradient of 32.2 day/deg. These typical characteristics may provide some hints for constructing an actual solar dynamo. (c) 2007 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.