Successfully Reproducing Solar Orbiter Polar Field Observations with a Surface Flux Transport Model
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The solar polar field plays a fundamental role in predicting solar-cycle strength and determines the large-scale structure of the heliospheric magnetic field. The High Resolution Telescope of the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager on board Solar Orbiter (SO/PHI-HRT) provides unprecedented observations of the solar polar regions, as Solar Orbiter currently reaches heliographic latitudes of up to ±17 ∘ , about 10 ∘ higher than those accessible from near-ecliptic observations. Using these observations to further test surface flux transport models, we present a successful simulation of the SO/PHI-HRT observations, reproducing the latitudinal profiles of the longitudinally averaged radial magnetic field in both polar regions. This result is achieved using the meridional-flow profile proposed by R. Wang et al., which also reproduces the evolution of the axial dipole strength, magnetic butterfly diagram, and high-latitude magnetic fields observed by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory during Solar Cycle 25. We further compare simulations using this profile with simulations employing two representative meridional-flow profiles characterized by different peak latitudes. The latter fail to reproduce the observed high-latitude and polar fields. The comparison demonstrates that the meridional-flow profile strongly regulates poleward flux transport and the resulting polar-field evolution. Profiles peaking at higher latitudes produce stronger flux surges, and stronger and more concentrated polar fields. These results provide new constraints on the large-scale solar meridional flow.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Commission, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, NextGenerationEU
Awards: G1171257612, G2124616825, G2831480305, G318412399, G3471193523, G3696727022, G3817602061, G3975875632, G410571670, G451917667, G463062595, G5541392525, G5881647929, G5894067328, G5965985481, G5967599077, G6298273575, G6520718613, G6640658711, G7119571060, G7123013300, G7174513798, G7622090883, G8372688543, G856857239
OpenAlex ID: W7214778708