2003/03/03 by Bertrand C. Barrois, Barrois, Bertrand C.
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #Chaotic Dynamics (nlin.CD) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0303038
openalex publication_date 2003/03/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Differential rotation is widely supposed to be essential for the dynamo effects that sustain solar and planetary magnetic fields, but dynamo effects tend to oppose the flows that drive them, and it is uncertain what drives differential rotation. The relative sign of the differential rotation and meridional circulation is not consistent with simple convection modified by Coriolis forces. We investigate dynamo mechanisms consistent with the observed solar circulation, and discuss how reactive JxB forces would affect such flows. We formulate scaling rules that relate the magnetic field strength to mean rotation and convective heat transport.