Meridional circulation dynamics from 3D MHD global simulations of solar convection

Abstract

The form of the solar meridional circulation is a very important ingredient for mean field flux transport dynamo models. Yet a shroud of mystery still surrounds this large-scale flow, given that its measurement using current helioseismic techniques is challenging. In this work we use results from 3D global simulations of solar convection to infer the dynamical behavior of the established meridional circulation. We make a direct comparison between the meridional circulation that arises in these simulations and the latest observations. Based on our results we argue that there should be an equatorward flow at the base of the convection zone at mid latitudes, below the current maximum depth helioseismic measures can probe (0.75 R). We also provide physical arguments to justify this behaviour. The simulations indicate that the meridional circulation undergoes substantial changes in morphology as the magnetic cycle unfolds. We close by discussing the importance of these dynamical changes for current methods of observation that involve long averaging periods of helioseismic data. Also noteworthy is the fact that these topological changes indicate a rich interaction between magnetic fields and plasma flows, which challenges the ubiquitous kinematic approach used in the vast majority of mean field dynamo simulations.

arXiv commentAccepted in ApJ Letters

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• A proposed paradigm for solar cycle dynamics mediated via turbulent pumping of magnetic flux in Babcock-Leighton type solar dynamos
• Magnetic flux concentrations from turbulent stratified convection
• Convective velocity suppression via the enhancement of subadiabatic layer: Role of the effective Prandtl number
• Driving Solar Giant Cells through the Self-Organization of Near-Surface Plumes
• The dynamics of Wolf numbers based on nonlinear dynamo with magnetic helicity: comparisons with observations
• Meridional Circulation Dynamics in a Cyclic Convective Dynamo
• Meridional circulation in the Sun and stars
• Recent advances in the 3D kinematic Babcock-Leighton solar dynamo modeling
• An application of a solar-type dynamo model for Epsilon Eridani
• Time-dependent theory of solar meridional flows