The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reveals that these plasma flows occur in the near-surface shear layer (NSSL) — a turbulent zone extending about 35,000 kilometers below the Sun’s surface. The movement of these subsurface tides appearrs closely tied to the Sun’s 11-year magnetic activity cycle, which governs solar flares and sunspots.
The collaborative effort included researchers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Stanford University, and the National Solar Observatory. Scientists believe this discovery could improve space weather forecasting, offering better predictions of solar storms that can disrupt Earth’s satellites, power grids, and communication systems.
“This is like discovering hidden ocean tides beneath the solar surface,” said a lead researcher, describing how the plasma movements influence magnetic activity observable on the Sun’s exterior.
By shedding light on the Sun’s internal dynamics, the findings also challenge previous assumptions about how solar magnetic fields are generated, potentially pointing to a shallower origin than previously thought.
