Correlations with Magnetic Activity in the Solar Near-Surface Shear Layer. I. Rotation
We used data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager to determine the rotation rate of the near-surface shear layer and its time variation. We applied the ring-diagram analysis technique allowing us to probe the layer between the depths of 1 Mm and 17 Mm. We find that the rotation rate increases inwards; it reaches values consistent with those inferred from global helioseismic analyses in the deeper layers, however, there are differences in the rotation rate of the northern and southern hemisp…