Relation between trees of fragmenting granules and supergranulation evolution^⋆

¹ Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 14 avenue Édouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
e-mail: thierry.roudier@irap.omp.eu
² LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon, 92195 Meudon, France
³ Lockheed Martin Advance Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

Received: 12 January 2016
Accepted: 6 April 2016

Abstract

Context. The determination of the underlying mechanisms of the magnetic elements diffusion over the solar surface is still a challenge. Understanding the formation and evolution of the solar network (NE) is a challenge, because it provides a magnetic flux over the solar surface comparable to the flux of active regions at solar maximum.

Aims. We investigate the structure and evolution of interior cells of solar supergranulation. From Hinode observations, we explore the motions on solar surface at high spatial and temporal resolution. We derive the main organization of the flows inside supergranules and their effect on the magnetic elements.

Methods. To probe the superganule interior cell, we used the trees of fragmenting granules (TFG) evolution and their relations to horizontal flows.

Results. Evolution of TFG and their mutual interactions result in cumulative effects able to build horizontal coherent flows with longer lifetime than granulation (1 to 2 h) over a scale up to 12′′. These flows clearly act on the diffusion of the intranetwork (IN) magnetic elements and also on the location and shape of the network.

Conclusions. From our analysis during 24 h, TFG appear as one of the major elements of the supergranules which diffuse and advect the magnetic field on the Sun’s surface. The strongest supergranules contribute the most to magnetic flux diffusion in the solar photosphere.