Cross-hemispheric coupling in a Babcock–Leighton model of the solar cycle Original Research Article

In this paper, I present some exploratory dynamo calculations illustrating the influence of cross-hemispheric coupling in solar cycle models based on the Babcock–Leighton mechanism of poloidal field regeneration. Using two very distinct formulations of Babcock–Leighton dynamos, I examine the issues of cross-hemispheric phase lag, interference, and synchronization of Maunder–Minimum-like episodes of suppressed activity. Although covering only a small fraction of the model’s relevant parameter space, results presented here suggest that additional effects, such as transequatorial flows for example, may be required to achieve sufficient cross-hemispheric coupling in this class of solar cycle models.