For the first time, we present and discuss EUV radiances of the solar
transition region (TR) and corona obtained during a solar cycle. The
measurements were obtained with the SOHO/coronal diagnostic spectrometer (CDS)
during the period from 1996 to 2010. We find that limb-brightening
significantly affects any characterisation of the solar radiances. We present
the limb-brightening function for the main lines and find that it does not
change measurably during the cycle. We confirm earlier findings that the
radiance histogram of the cooler lines have a well defined, log-normal
quiet-Sun component, although our results differ from previous ones. The width
of the lowest-radiance log-normal distribution is constant along the cycle.
Both the analysis of the centre-to-limb variation and of the radiance
statistical distribution point to a constant QS emission along solar cycle 23.
Lines formed above 1 MK are dramatically affected by the presence of active
regions, and indeed, no "quiet Sun" region can be defined during periods of
maximum activity. Much of the irradiance variability in lines formed below 1.5
MK is due to a change in the emitting area. For hotter lines, the emitting area
saturates to almost 100% of full solar disk at the maximum of activity, while
simultaneously the emission due to active regions increases by more than an
order of magnitude. We show that structures around active regions, sometimes
referred to as dark halos or dark canopies, are common and discuss their
similarities and differences with coronal holes. In particular, we show how
they are well visible in TR lines, contrary to coronal holes.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables; in press in: Astronomy & Astrophysic
