What are temporary dark spots on the Sun's surface called?

Temporary dark spots on the Sun's surface are referred to as sunspots. These are regions that appear darker than the surrounding areas due to their lower temperatures, which are caused by magnetic activity that inhibits convection, leading to decreased heat at the surface. Sunspots can last from just a few days to several weeks and are a key indicator of solar activity. Their presence is associated with the solar cycle, which influences solar radiation and can have effects on space weather and terrestrial communications.

Solar flares, on the other hand, are intense bursts of radiation emerging from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots, and they occur suddenly rather than appearing as a permanent spot. Prominences are large, bright features extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in loop shapes, related to the Sun's magnetic field, and are not just dark spots. Coronal holes are areas on the Sun that are less dense and cooler, allowing solar wind to escape more freely, but they are distinct from the dark spots seen directly on the surface. Thus, sunspots are specifically defined as the temporary dark features that meet the criteria of the question.