scholarly journals Search for Giant Cells in the Solar Convection Zone

1980 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Labonte ◽  
R. Howard

The Mount Wilson Observatory has obtained daily full disk digital magnetograms of the Sun since 1966, with 12 to 17 arcsecond resolution. As each magnetogram is taken, the position of the Doppler line shift compensator is also recorded, thus giving a full disk map of the longitudinal velocity. This entire dataset is currently being rereduced on a uniform basis (Howard et al., 1980), and daily arrays of residual velocities are being formed by removing large scale patterns, e.g., Earth's motions, solar rotation, limbshift. Data from the years 1972 through 1978 are used here.

1988 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Frank Hill ◽  
David M. Rust ◽  
Thierry Appourchaux

Full disk observations of the 5-min solar oscillations have been obtained with a lithium niobate Fabry-Perot filter. The equatorial solar rotation rate as a function of depth has been inferred from the sectoral modes of oscillation using the Backus-Gilbert optimal averaging inversion method. The results show a rotation rate that slowly decreases over the depths of 15 to 56 Mm below the photosphere. The results are in agreement with the previous Duvall-Harvey observations.


1991 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 37-56
Author(s):  
Paul H. Roberts

AbstractIn addition to the well-known granulation and supergranulation of the solar convection zone (the “SCZ”), the presence of so-called “giant cells” has been postulated. These are supposed span the entire thickness of the SCZ and to stretch from pole to pole in a sequence of elongated cells like a “cartridge belt” or a bunch of “bananas” strung uniformly round the Sun. Conclusive evidence for the existence of such giant cells is still lacking, despite strenuous observational efforts to find them. After analyses of sunspot motion, Ribes and others believe that convective motions near the solar surface occurs in a pattern that is the antithesis of the cartridge belt: a system of “toroidal” or “doughnut” cells, girdling the Sun in a sequence that extends from one pole to the other. Galloway, Jones and Roberts have recently tried to meet the resulting theoretical challenge, with the mixed success reported in this paper.


2008 ◽  
Vol 144 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 151-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Sacha Brun ◽  
Matthias Rempel

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S294) ◽  
pp. 367-368
Author(s):  
V. V. Pipin

AbstractThe interaction of helical convective motions and differential rotation in the solar convection zone results in turbulent drift of a large-scale magnetic field. We discuss the pumping mechanism and its impact on the solar dynamo.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S239) ◽  
pp. 425-430
Author(s):  
Evgeniy Tikhomolov

AbstractDevelopment of convection in sun's outer shell is caused by reduction of effectiveness of energy transfer by radiation. Traditionally, models of solar convection are considered to be axisymmetric on the scale of solar radius. Such models provide basic understanding of convection under solar conditions. However, interpretation of a number of observable large-scale long-lived solar phenomena requires developing a non-axisymmetric approach. We present such a model in which large-scale non-axisymmetry is caused by large-scale flows such as Rossby waves and vortices. We model flows near the base of the solar convection zone. Anelastic approximation is used, which is valid for flow velocities much smaller than local sound speed. Our three-dimensional numerical simulations show that interaction of convection with large-scale flows leads to the establishment of non-axisymmetric large-scale temperature distribution. The interaction also gives rise to large-scale variations of penetration depth of convective plumes. Generation of the magnetic field by large-scale non-axisymmetric flows can explain such solar phenomena as complexes of activity, active longitudes, drifts of large-scale magnetic fields from equator to the poles, and appearance of distinct rotation periods of magnetic fields at some latitudes. We discuss a possibility of detection of large-scale non-axisymmetric flows and temperature distributions associated with them by the methods of helioseismology.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S271) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Frank Hill ◽  
Rachel Howe ◽  
Rudi Komm ◽  
Irene González Hernández ◽  
Shukur Kholikov ◽  
...  

AbstractThe large-scale dynamics of the solar convection zone have been inferred using both global and local helioseismology applied to data from the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) and the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on board SOHO. The global analysis has revealed temporal variations of the “torsional oscillation” zonal flow as a function of depth, which may be related to the properties of the solar cycle. The horizontal flow field as a function of heliographic position and depth can be derived from ring diagrams, and shows near-surface meridional flows that change over the activity cycle. Time-distance techniques can be used to infer the deep meridional flow, which is important for flux-transport dynamo models. Temporal variations of the vorticity can be used to investigate the production of flare activity. This paper summarizes the state of our knowledge in these areas.


1998 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 177-178
Author(s):  
Evgeniy Tikhomolov

Rossby vortices excited near the base of the solar convection zone are very appealing objects for interpretation of a number of solar phenomena such as long-lived large-scale magnetic structures, the poleward drift of the axisymmetric components after the polar field reversal, and a peculiar long-term behavior of the nonaxisymmetric components (Tikhomolov and Mordvinov 1996).


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