Subsurface Flows in Active Regions with Peculiar Magnetic Configurations

TL;DR

This study analyzes subsurface flow patterns in active regions with unusual magnetic configurations, revealing distinct flow behaviors that differ from normal regions, using local correlation tracking and ring diagram techniques.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the flow dynamics of peculiar active regions, highlighting differences from typical active regions and their potential role in flux migration.

Findings

Meridional flows near anti-Hale regions are predominantly equatorward.

Flow patterns around anti-Joy regions depend on hemisphere, showing clockwise or anti-clockwise flows.

Distinct flow behaviors are observed compared to normal active regions.

Abstract

We present analysis of the evolution of subsurface flows in and around active regions with peculiar magnetic configurations and compare their characteristics with the normal active regions. We also study the zonal and meridional components of subsurface flows separately in different polarity regions separately to better understand their role in flux migration. We use the techniques of local correlation tracking and ring diagrams for computing surface and subsurface flows, respectively. Our study manifests an evidence that the meridional component of the flows near anti-Hale active regions is predominantly equatorward which disagrees with the poleward flow pattern seen in pro-Hale active regions. We also find clockwise or anti-clockwise flows surrounding the anti-Joy active regions depending on their locations in the Southern or Northern hemispheres, respectively.