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Register a new userUnderstanding solar torsional oscillations from global dynamo models
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The phenomenon of solar torsional oscillations (TO) represents migratory zonal flows associated with the solar cycle. These flows are observed on the solar surface and, according to helioseismology, extend through the convection zone. We study the origin of the TO using results from a global MHD simulation of the solar interior that reproduces several of the observed characteristics of the mean-flows and magnetic fields. Our results indicate that the magnetic tension (MT) in the tachocline region is a key factor for the periodic changes in the angular momentum transport that causes the TO. The torque induced by the MT at the base of the convection zone is positive at the poles and negative at the equator. A rising MT torque at higher latitudes causes the poles to speed-up, whereas a declining negative MT torque at the lower latitudes causes the equator to slow-down. These changes in the zonal flows propagate through the convection zone up to the surface. Additionally, our results suggest that it is the magnetic field at the tachocline that modulates the amplitude of the surface meridional flow rather than the opposite as assumed by flux-transport dynamo models of the solar cycle.
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We characterize and analyze rotational torsional oscillations developing in a large-eddy magnetohydrodynamical simulation of solar convection (Ghizaru, Charbonneau, and Smolarkiewicz, Astrophys. J. Lett., 715, L133 (2010); Racine et al., Astrophys. J., 735, 46 (2011)) producing an axisymmetric large-scale magnetic field undergoing periodic polarity reversals. Motivated by the many solar-like features exhibited by these oscillations, we carry out an analysis of the large-scale zonal dynamics. We demonstrate that simulated torsional oscillations are not driven primarily by the periodically-varying large-scale magnetic torque, as one might have expected, but rather via the magnetic modulation of angular-momentum transport by the large-scale meridional flow. This result is confirmed by a straightforward energy analysis. We also detect a fairly sharp transition in rotational dynamics taking place as one moves from the base of the convecting layers to the base of the thin tachocline-like shear layer formed in the stably stratified fluid layers immediately below. We conclude by discussing the implications of our analyses with regards to the mechanism of amplitude saturation in the global dynamo operating in the simulation, and speculate on the possible precursor value of torsional oscillations for the forecast of solar cycle characteristics.
Using a nonlinear mean-field solar dynamo model, we study relationships between the amplitude of the `extended mode of migrating zonal flows (`torsional oscillations) and magnetic cycles, and investigate whether properties the torsional oscillations in subsurface layers and in the deep convection zone can provide information about the future solar cycles. We consider two types of dynamo models: models with regular variations of the alpha-effect, and models with stochastic fluctuations, simulating `long- and short-memory types of magnetic activity variations. It is found that torsional oscillation parameters, such the zonal acceleration, show a considerable correlation with the magnitude of the subsequent cycles with a time lag of 11-20 yr. The sign of the correlation and the time-lag parameters can depend on the depth and latitude of the torsional oscillations as well as on the properties of long-term (`centennial) variations of the dynamo cycles. The strongest correlations are found for the zonal acceleration at high latitudes at the base of the convection zone. The model results demonstrate that helioseismic observations of the torsional oscillations can be useful for advanced prediction of the solar cycles, one-two sunspot cycles ahead.
The solar dynamo and the solar Global internal Magnetic Structure (GMS) appear to be a thin ($sim$2 Mm thick) structure near ($sim$1 Mm below) the solar surface. Evidence for these properties are found from the amplitude of the torsional oscillations and in their velocity contours relationship to solar magnetogram; the power to the chromosphere; power to the corona and the solar wind; the current in the helio-current-sheet measured at the radius of the orbit of Earth; the calculated size ($sim$1 Mm) of the expanding polar flux when it enters the photosphere; and from the observation that solar magnetic activity is generated near the surface. A thin stable minimum energy state seems to be covering most of the solar surface just below the photosphere. The magnetic field lines should be parallel to the solar surface and rotate with distance from the surface for 2$pi$ radians in $sim$2 Mm. Resistive diffusion helps to push the magnetic fields to the surface and the GMS seems to lose $pi$ radians every 11 years, causing the observed 180$^circ$ flipping of the solar magnetic fields including the flipping of the polar flux. Further evidence for this GMS and its loss is that solar prominences are made of thin sheets of magnetized plasma, which are, likely, remnants of the lost thin sheet of the GMS. The loss process is consistent with the butterfly pattern of the sunspots and with the differences observed between solar maximum and solar minimum in the corona. The solar dynamo drives current parallel to the polar flux, which, in turn, sustains the GMS using cross-field current drive. For completeness, the formation of sunspots, CMEs and flares is discussed.
We present a nonlinear mean-field model of the solar interior dynamics and dynamo, which reproduces the observed cyclic variations of the global magnetic field of the Sun, as well as the differential rotation and meridional circulation. Using this model, we explain, for the first time, the extended 22-year pattern of the solar torsional oscillations, observed as propagation of zonal variations of the angular velocity from high latitudes to the equator during the time equal to the full dynamo cycle. In the literature, this effect is usually attributed to the so-called extended solar cycle. In agreement with the commonly accepted idea our model shows that the torsional oscillations can be driven by a combinations of magnetic field effects acting on turbulent angular momentum transport, and the large-scale Lorentz force. We find that the 22-year pattern of the torsional oscillations can result from a combined effect of an overlap of subsequent magnetic cycles and magnetic quenching of the convective heat transport. The latter effect results in cyclic variations of the meridional circulation in the sunspot formation zone, in agreement with helioseismology results. The variations of the meridional circulation together with other drivers of the torsional oscillations maintain their migration to the equator during the 22-year magnetic cycle, resulting in the observed extended pattern of the torsional oscillations.
We investigate to what extent the current helicity distribution observed in solar active regions is compatible with solar dynamo models. We use an advanced 2D mean-field dynamo model with dynamo action largely concentrated near the bottom of the convective zone, and dynamo saturation based on the evolution of the magnetic helicity and algebraic quenching. For comparison, we also studied a more basic 2D mean-field dynamo model with simple algebraic alpha quenching only. Using these numerical models we obtain butterfly diagrams for both the small-scale current helicity and the large-scale magnetic helicity, and compare them with the butterfly diagram for the current helicity in active regions obtained from observations. This comparison shows that the current helicity of active regions, as estimated by $-A cdot B$ evaluated at the depth from which the active region arises, resembles the observational data much better than the small-scale current helicity calculated directly from the helicity evolution equation. Here $B$ and $A$ are respectively the dynamo generated mean magnetic field and its vector potential.
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