... areas

When the average flux density exceeds a limit of about 100 G, the relatively stable ``plage state'' (Schrijver 1987) is maintained as an intermediate stage: the convective pattern is severly disturbed by the magnetic field and supergranulation is largely absent, so that the dispersal of the flux is temporarily diminished. Sunspots actively shape the surrounding flow structure by developing the outward moat flow, which probably temporarily suppresses the flux transport by supergranulation and meridional flow.

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