Magnetic cycle of the sun: peculiarities of the photospheric field distribution

Synoptic maps produced by the National Solar Observatory Kitt Peak (1976-2003) were used to study the longitudinal distribution of the Sun's photospheric magnetic field. Superposition of synoptic maps displays different pictures for the ascending phase and maximum, for the declining phase and minimum. Two characteristic periods correspond to different situations occurring in the 22-year magnetic cycle of the Sun, in the course of which both global magnetic field and the magnetic field of the leading sunspot in a group change their sign.