The rotational influence on solar convection

Abstract

This paper considers the dominant dynamical, thermal and rotational balances within the solar convection zone. The reasoning is such that: Coriolis forces balance pressure gradients. Background vortex stretching, baroclinic torques and nonlinear advection balance jointly. Turbulent fluxes convey what part of the solar luminosity that radiative diffusion cannot. These four relations determine estimates for the dominant length scales and dynamical amplitudes strictly in terms of known physical quantities. We predict that the dynamical Rossby number for convection is less than unity below the near-surface shear layer, indicating strong rotational constraint. We also predict a characteristic convection length scale of roughly 30 Mm throughout much of the convection zone. These inferences help explain recent observations that reveal weak flow amplitudes at 100-200 Mm scales.