Explaining the variation of the meridional circulation with the solar cycle

Gopal Hazra, Arnab Rai Choudhuri

Published 2018-09-18Version 1

The meridional circulation of the Sun is observationally found to vary with the solar cycle, becoming slower during the solar maxima. We explain this by constructing a theoretical model in which the equation of the meridional circulation (the $\phi$ component of the vorticity equation) is coupled with the equations of the flux transport dynamo model. We find that the Lorentz force of the dynamo-generated magnetic fields can slow down the \MC\ during the solar maxima in broad conformity with the observations.