@phdthesis{3578, author = {B. Greer}, title = {Exploring the Dynamics of Near-Surface Solar Convection with Helioseismology}, abstract = {
I present a new implementation of local helioseismology along with observations of near-surface solar\ convection made with this method. The upper 5\% of the solar radius (35 Mm) is known as the Near-Surface\ Shear Layer (NSSL) and is characterized by strong rotational shear. While the physical origin of this layer\ remains unknown, current theories point to convective motions playing an important role. In this thesis I\ investigate the properties of convection in the NSSL using a newly-developed high-resolution ring-diagram\ analysis. I present measurements of the speeds and spatial scales of near-surface flows and from these infer\ that the degree of rotational constraint on convective flows varies significantly across this layer. In depth\ analysis of the convective patterns reveals the pervasive influence of coherent downflow plumes generated at\ the photosphere. These structures link the convective pattern of supergranulation seen in surface observations\ with the deeper motions found within the NSSL and further hint at the importance of rotation in this layer.
}, year = {2015}, volume = {Ph.D.}, pages = {202}, month = {12-2015}, publisher = {University of Colorado Boulder}, address = {Boulder, CO}, }