Identification

Title

A dynamic equilibrium theory for zonal circulation in the solar convection zone

Abstract

This work proposes a new theoretical model for the observed differential zonal motion in the solar convection zone. It is based on a dynamic equilibrium among three fundamental forces: pressure gradient forces, centrifugal forces, and Coriolis forces. Existing models, many achieving substantial success, require convection as a key mechanism to drive the zonal motion. Generally these models have a geostrophic balance as their lowest order balance. In the new approach presented here, an even lower order balance is derived and convection is not required. The precise observed shape of the Sun is treated as a fixed boundary condition. Recent observations characterize solar shape in terms of a surface radius function composed of Legendre polynomials $P_0, P_2, P_4$, and their amplitudes $a_0, a_2, a_4$. In this work it is assumed the $a_2$ and $a_4$ shape anomaly amplitudes are determined a priori as an energy minimum configuration of the body. The model calculates the poleward pressure gradient forces caused by the shape anomaly. It separately calculates the equatorward centrifugal forces caused by the rotation of the reference frame. Contrary to expectations, these two forces do not exactly cancel. The residual is identified as the Coriolis force. The fluid velocity required to close the force budget is the observed zonal circulation. This dynamic equilibrium model offers a new paradigm to explain the zonal circulation of the Sun.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7gb28ft

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

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Text

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title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

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West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

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date type

publication

effective date

2025-02-28T00:00:00Z

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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;" data-sheets-root="1">Copyright author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</span>

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

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