Meridional Flow Observations: Implications for the current Flux Transport Models
Howe, Rachel; Komm, Rudolf; Hill, Frank; González Hernández, Irene; Kholikov, Shukur
United States
Abstract
Meridional circulation has become a key element in the solar dynamo flux transport models. Available helioseismic observations from several instruments, Taiwan Oscillation Network (TON), Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) and Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI), have made possible a continuous monitoring of the solar meridional flow in the subphotospheric layers for the last solar cycle, including the recent extended minimum. Here we review some of the meridional circulation observations using local helioseismology techniques and relate them to magnetic flux transport models.