Related papers: Near-surface shear layer dynamics
We examine the role of small-scale granulation in helping to drive supergranulation and even larger scales of convection. The granulation is modeled as localized cooling events introduced at the upper boundary of a 3-D simulation of…
We present a new model of large-scale multilayer convection in solar type stars. This model allows us to understand such self-similar structures observed at solar surface as granulation, supergranulation and giant cells. We study the…
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…
Stars on the lower main sequence (F-type through M-type) have substantial convective envelopes beneath their stellar photospheres. Convection in these regions can couple with rotation to build global-scale structures that may be observable…
Sunspots and the plethora of other phenomena occuring in the course of the 11-year cycle of solar activity are a consequence of the emergence of magnetic flux at the solar surface. The observed orientations of bipolar sunspot groups imply…
A striking feature of the solar cycle is that at the beginning, sunspots appear around mid-latitudes, and over time the latitudes of emergences migrate towards the equator.The maximum level of activity (e.g., sunspot number) varies from…
We extend the notion of a shell model to stratified systems, and propose one that represents stratified, nonmagnetic, nonrotating convection at low Mach number. Motivated by profiles of background stratification that support convection in…
Supergranules are believed to be an evidence for large-scale subsurface convection. The vertical component of the supergranular flow field is very hard to measure, but it is considered only a few m/s in and below the photosphere. Here I…
The eddy viscosity in the solar supergranulation layer is derived from the observed rotational shear by computing theoretical rotation laws for the outermost parts of the solar convection zone using the results from numerical simulations of…
The Sun's polar magnetic fields are directly related to solar cycle variability. The strength of the polar fields at the start (minimum) of a cycle determine the subsequent amplitude of that cycle. In addition, the polar field reversals at…
In the quiet Sun, magnetic fields are usually observed as small-scale magnetic elements, `salt and pepper', covering the entire solar surface. By using 3D radiative MHD numerical simulations we demonstrate that these fields are a result of…
The buoyant transport of magnetic fields from the solar interior towards the surface plays an important role in the emergence of active regions, the formation of sunspots and the overall solar dynamo. Observations suggest that toroidal flux…
Simple models of magnetic field generation by convection in rotating spherical shells exhibit properties resembling those observed on the sun. The {assumption of the Boussinesq approximation made in these models} prevents a realistic…
Buoyancy effects in unstably stratified mixing layers express themselves through gravity currents of heavy fluid which propagate in an ambient lighter fluid. These currents are encountered in numerous geophysical flows, industrial safety…
Interactions between flows and magnetic fields in the Sun's plasma can change surface waves and flows near active regions, are evident in cyclic changes of large-scale phenomena such as the meridional circulation, and contribute to dynamics…
Supergranules are convection cells seen at the Sun's surface as a space filling pattern of horizontal flows. While typical supergranules have diameters of about 35 Mm, they exhibit a broad spectrum of sizes from ~10 Mm to ~100 Mm. Here we…
The large-scale magnetic pattern of the quiet sun is dominated by the magnetic network. This network, created by photospheric magnetic fields swept into convective downflows, delineates the boundaries of large scale cells of overturning…
Compared to the Sun, the atmospheric structure and convective flow in Procyon A exhibit the following characteristics: (1) the highly superadiabatic transition layer (SAL) is located at much shallower optical depth; it is in a dynamically…
We investigate how rotationally-constrained, deep convection might give rise to supergranulation, the largest distinct spatial scale of convection observed in the solar photosphere. While supergranulation is only weakly influenced by…
We live near a magnetic star whose cycles of activity are driven by dynamo action beneath the surface. In the solar convection zone, rotation couples with plasma motions to build highly organized magnetic fields that erupt at the surface…