Sunspots are regions on the surface of the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding temperatures. Sunspots develope in a period ranging from hours to months. They typically contain a dark region called the umbra and a lighter region called the penumbra. These sunspots move with the around the Sun in groups of more than 100 spots. The more sunspots equal more solar storms which leads to more solar wind, which scientists call charged particles that blows off the surface of the Sun. Once the solar wind reaches Earth's magnetosphere, it interferes with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen and produces colorful streams of light, also known as the aurora borealis.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0908-spotting_sun_spots.htm
Video giving information on sunspots with astronomer Brad Schaefer
Video giving information on sunspots with astronomer Brad Schaefer
An example of the 11-year sunspot cycle
Source http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.shtml
Source http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.shtml