Tilt of Emerging Bipolar Magnetic Regions on the Sun

Magnetic fields emerging from the Sun's interior carry information about the physical processes of magnetic field generation and transport in the convection zone. A statistical analysis of variations of the tilt angle of bipolar magnetic regions during the emergence, observed from SOHO MDI, shows that the systematic tilt with respect to the equator (Joy's law) is established by the middle of the emergence period. This suggests that the tilt is most likely generated below the surface. However, the data do not show evidence of a dependence of the tilt angle on the amount of flux or a relaxation of the bipolar orientation toward the east-west direction, in contrast to the predictions of the rising magnetic flux rope theories.