HYDROMAGNETIC MODEL FOR THE SOLAR GENERAL CIRCULATION.
Abstract
Observations of phenomena on the surface of the sun of widely varying time and space scales are reviewed. Some of the theories for the larger, more slowly changing features are also surveyed. It is suggested that a plausible alternative to these theories could result from suitable hydromagnetic generalizations of the equations which have proved fruitful in understanding the earth's atmospheric general circulation. An energetically consistent set of scaled equations for large scale hydromagnetic flow is obtained and studied. The system is perturbed about a zonal flow and toroidal magnetic field. Some general integral theorems for unstable and neutral normal modes are proved. The stability of two level baroclinic flow in a uniform magnetic field is studied. This is generalized by adding parabolic flow in the upper layer. Qualitative and order of magnitude comparisons are made between the theoretical results and the solar observations showing enough consistency to encourage further work. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0636862
Entities
People
- Peter A. Gilman
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology