The Sun's meridional flow is an axisymmetric flow that is generally directed from its equator toward its poles at the surface. The structure and strength of the meridional flow determine both the strength of the Sun's polar magnetic field and the intensity of sunspot cycles. We determine the meridional flow speed of magnetic features on the Sun using data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The average flow is poleward at all latitudes up to 75 degrees, which suggests that it extends to the poles. It was faster at sunspot cycle minimum than at maximum and substantially faster on the approach to the current minimum than it was at the last solar minimum. This result may help to explain why this solar activity minimum is so peculiar.

We measure the axisymmetric transport of magnetic flux on the Sun by cross-correlating narrow strips of data from line-of-sight magnetograms obtained at a 96 minute cadence by the MDI instrument on the ESA/NASA SOHO spacecraft and then averaging the flow measurements over each synodic rotation of the Sun. Our measurements indicate that the axisymmetric flows vary systematically over the solar cycle. The differential rotation is weaker at maximum than at minimum. The meridional flow is faster at minimum and slower at maximum. The meridional flow speed on the approach to the Cycle 23/24 minimum was substantially faster than it was at the Cycle 22/23 minimum. The average latitudinal profile is largely a simple sinusoid that extends to the poles and peaks at about 35 • latitude. As the cycle progresses, a pattern of inflows toward the sunspot zones develops and moves equatorward in step with the sunspot zones. These inflows are accompanied by the torsional oscillations. This association is consistent with the effects of the Coriolis force acting on the inflows. The equatorward motions associated with these inflows are identified as the source of the decrease in net poleward flow at cycle maxima. We also find polar countercells (equatorward flow at high latitudes) in the south from 1996 to 2000 and in the north from 2002 to 2010. We show that these measurements of the flows are not affected by the nonaxisymmetric diffusive motions produced by supergranulation.

No abstract

No abstract