Helioseismic Probing with GONG of Subsurface Flows and their Coupling to Magnetic Activity

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

New local-domain helioseismic observations reveal the presence of complex, large-scale, horizontal sub-solar-surface flows. These remarkable weather-like flow patterns, now called Solar Subsurface Weather, are occurring within a zonal shear layer in which the rotational angular velocity increases rapidly with depth. The flows possess intricate patterns that change from one day to the next, accompanied by steady large-scale handed zonal jets and meridional circulation cells. Synoptic maps of this "solar weather" indicate that the Sun's magnetic field modulates flow speeds and directions. This effort will (1) develop an improved ring-diagram analysis technique that will be applied to the GONG+ data to provide continuous real-time coverage of solar weather, (2) use the synoptic solar weather maps to better characterize the magnetic modulation, (3) determine if the modulation can be used to predict and forecast magnetic eruptive activity in the solar atmosphere, and (4) evaluate angular momentum transport within the solar convection zone with the goal of understanding how the Sun maintains its observed differential rotation.