We briefly review the question of the occurrence of well isolated sunspots during the whole solar activity cycle. This includes big sunspots like the “monster” observed at equator in Nov. 2006. We note that a perfect axi-symmetric morphology is clearly NOT observed when the morphological details of both the umbra and penumbra are considered. However, the occurrence of persistent coherent penumbral waves, the magnetic moat behaviour, the bright ring phenomena, etc. seem to justify a revival of the former and revised Larmor model of a quasi- axi- symmetric sunspot.
To discuss the "emergence" processes of a single sunspot from deep layers, we performed a statistical analysis limited to cycle 23 and based on MDI images taken in the continuum and using magnetograms. Surprisingly, single sunspots are definitely and preferably found to occur at low latitude and during the descending branch of the cycle. To explain our “surface” observations, we suggest in deep layers the occurrence of magnetic loops orthogonal to the local radius, similar to "smoke rings" arriving at the surface of the Sun. The rings will only very slightly feel the Coriolis force at low latitudes, as already suggested by Alfven, which is consistent with our observations.