Is the solar meridional circulation profile single-, double-, or multiple-cell? At least, a constraint of equatorward angular momentum transport by meridional circulation favors the double-cell structure, although the inversion with a constraint of mass conservation favors single cell.
A surface flux transport model, using HMI-observed global magnetic field and active regions as inputs, with different polar meridional-flow profiles simulates the magnetic field in the polar caps. The simulation is then compared with Hinode-observed polar magnetic fields. The result supports an existence of counter cells above 70-degree latitude in each hemisphere.
The Sun’s near surface shear layer (NSSL) is characterized by using HMI ring-diagram results. It is found the NSSL is composed of three distinct layers: a deeper larger region with a small shear, a narrow middle layer with a strong shear, and a layer very close to the surface.