Bibcode
Scherrer, P. H.; Schou, J.; Bogart, R. S.; Bush, R. I.; Hoeksema, J. T.; Kosovichev, A. G.; Antia, H. M.; Chitre, S. M.; Christensen-Dalsgaard, J.; Larsen, R. M.; Pijpers, F. P.; Eff-Darwich, A.; Korzennik, S. G.; Gough, D. O.; Sekii, T.; Howe, R.; Tarbell, T.; Title, A. M.; Thompson, M. J.; Toomre, J.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society, 191st AAS Meeting, #73.10; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 29, p.1322
Advertised on:
12
1997
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We report on the latest inferences concerning solar differential
rotation that have been drawn from the helioseismic data that are now
available from the Solar Oscillations Investigation (SOI) using the
Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(SOHO). That spacecraft is positioned in a halo orbit near the Sun-Earth
Lagrangian point L_1, in order to obtain continuous Doppler-imaged
observations of the sun with high spatial fidelity. Doppler velocity,
intensity and magnetic field images are recorded, based on modulations
of the 676.8 nm Ni I solar absorption line. The high spatial resolution
of MDI thereby permits the study of many millions of global resonant
modes of solar oscillation. Determination and subsequent inversion of
the frequencies of these modes, including the degeneracy-splitting by
the rotation of the sun, enables us to infer how the sun's angular
velocity varies throughout much of the interior. The current MDI data
are providing substantial refinements to the helioseismic deductions
that can be made about differential rotation both within the convection
zone and in its transition to the radiative interior. The shearing layer
evident in the angular velocity Omega just below the solar surface is
becoming better defined, as is the adjustment layer or tachocline near
the base of the convection zone. The MDI data are also revealing a
prominent decrease in Omega at high latitudes from the rotation rate
expressed by a simple three-term expansion in latitude that was
originally deduced from surface Doppler measurements. Further, there are
indications that a submerged polar vortex involving somewhat faster
Omega than its surroundings exists at about 75(deg) in latitudes.