Giant convection cells found on the Sun

Area of Science:

• Solar physics
• Helioseismology
• Plasma physics

Background:

• Convective motions transport heat in the Sun's outer layers.
• Granules and supergranules are surface manifestations of solar convection.
• Evidence for larger convective cells has been sought for decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence and characteristics of giant cellular flows in the Sun.
• To understand the role of these flows in solar dynamics and angular momentum transport.

Main Methods:

• Tracking the motion of solar supergranules over extended periods.
• Analyzing observational data to identify persistent flow patterns.

Main Results:

• Evidence found for giant cellular flows persisting for months.
• Observed flows exhibit rotation-induced directionality (clockwise in the north, counterclockwise in the south).
• These flows transport angular momentum towards the solar equator.

Conclusions:

• Giant cellular flows are a significant feature of solar convection.
• These flows play a crucial role in maintaining the Sun's rapid equatorial rotation.
• The findings reconcile theoretical predictions with observational evidence of large-scale solar dynamics.