Authors: B.W. Hindman, D.A. Haber, S. Musman, J. Toomre
Affiliation: JILA, University of Colorado
The local helioseismic technique of ring analysis has recently revealed that large-scale subsurface circulations exist in the proximity of active regions. Nearly all active regions appear as zones of converging flow near the solar surface. Under some active regions at depths greater than 10 Mm, these flows can reverse forming sites of intense outflow. Using SOI-MDI data from the SOHO spacecraft, we have studied a large number of active regions from different periods during the solar cycle. We determine the range of possible subsurface flow behavior and distinguish the behaviors associated with different surface magnetic properties. For example, large active regions are more likely to possess deep outflows. In addition to differentiating subsurface flow behavior with respect to the surface magnetic field, we search for connections with eruptive phenomena in the overlying corona. Finally, we discuss new strategies to study these interactions using the continuous high-resolution observations of flows and magnetic fields soon to be available with HMI onboard SDO.