Asymmetry of solar activity in cycle 23

Using sunspot groups and sunspot areas from May 1996 to February 2007, we find that solar activity for cycle 23 is dominant in the southern hemisphere, and our results enhance the inferred but uncertain conclusions obtained before. They are as follows: (1) each four cycles, the slope of the fitting straight lines of north‐south asymmetry values changes its sign, and (2) the asymmetry signs of solar activity at both the low (>0° −