Sun  ID: 2232

SOHO/MDI Investigates Solar Flows Under Sunspots

Visualizations by Tom Bridgman Released on November 6, 2001
SOHO/MDI performs a 'sonogram' of the sun, revealing the subsurface temperature profile around a sunspot. Red isosurfaces denote regions where the sound speed (and temperature) are higher than average while blue isosurfaces directly under the spot illustrate where the sound speed (and temperature) are lower than average.
Download Options
Zoom down to and below the solar surface to see temperature isosurfaces below the sunspot.
Download Options
A full view of the sun at the start of the fly-in.
Download Options
A close-up view of the sunspot in the region of interest.
Download Options
Just below the solar surface, we can display isosurfaces of temperature anomalies. Blue is cooler than average, red is warmer than average, and yellow is just a little warmer than average.
Download Options
A view of the subsurface sunspot structure from another angle.
Download Options
Slate title from video tape reads, 'SOHO/MDI Peers Beaneath Sunspots.'

For More Information

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20010919sunspot.html

Visualization Credits

Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Neal Hurlburt (LMSAL): Scientist
Junwei Zhao (Stanford University): Scientist
Alexander G. Kosovichev (Stanford University): Scientist
Thomas L. Duvall Jr. (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Philip Scherrer (Stanford University): Scientist
A. M. Rucklidge (University of Cambridge): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Science Paper:
Zhao, J., Kosovichev, A.G., and Duvall, T.L. 2001, Astrophysical Journal, 557, 384. Hurlburt, N.E. and Rucklidge, A.M. 2000, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 314, 793

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/2232

Mission:
SOHO

Data Used:
SOHO/Michelson Doppler Interferometer (MDI) also referred to as: SOHO/MDI
NASA and ESA - 1998/06/18
view all stories where this data set is used
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of this series:
SOHO/MDI Helioseismology

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Helioseismology
SVS >> SOHO
DLESE >> Space science
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Sun-earth Interactions >> Solar Activity >> Sunspots
NASA Science >> Sun

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0