Global circulation and the solar dynamo

Abstract

The Sun is apparently rather typical of stars in its spectral class, with a convection zone of substantial depth and a modest rotation rate. These two factors are apparently enough to generate a substantial global circulation, seen so far principally as a differental rotation, as well as a nearly cyclic magnetohydrodynamic dynamo, seen principally as the 22 year "solar cycle". It would be expected therefore that many stars would have such dynamical characteristics. Recent observations of very large scale velocity fields of small velocity amplitude were reviewed.