Polar activity of the Sun in the new global solar cycle 23

Behaviour of polar activity of the Sun marked by the number of white light polar faculae, N-pf, according to the Kislovodsk observations during 1991-1999 yrs is discussed. Current polar activity cycle at the latitude more than 50 degrees had duration about 9 yrs from 1991 yr up to 1999 yr. Unusually strong bursts of polar faculae activity were observed during 1992 and 1996 at the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Moreover, at the Southern hemisphere several bursts of activity were observed in the end of 1993 and 1995. All 5 bursts at the both hemispheres coincided in time, i.e. the both polar regions of the Sun were working synchronously. Nevertheless, weak N-S asymmetry, N(N)(pf) - N(S)(pf), of polar activity was observed: positive in 1992 and 1997-1998, and negative from 1993 up to 1996. The time - variations of polar faculae activity for 1991-1995 were compared with those of the magnetic flux according to Kitt Peak. It was shown that 10.B Kislovodsk polar faculae correspond to B Gauss of the Kitt Peak magnetic field strengths. Before meaningful correlation between the number of polar faculae and the sunspot area of the next cycle was received for 1960-1995, Makarov and Makarova (1996). This correlation is discussed on the example of the relation between the number of polar faculae for 1991-1999 and the sunspot areas of the solar cycle in 1997-1999.