The subsurface radial gradient of solar angular velocity from MDI f-mode observations

We report quantitative analysis of the radial gradient of solar angular velocity at depths down to about 15 Mm below the solar surface for latitudes up to 75degrees using the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) observations of surface gravity waves (f modes) from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). A negative outward gradient of around -400 nHz/R-., equivalent to a logarithmic gradient of the rotation frequency with respect to radius which is very close to -1, is found to be remarkably constant between the equator and 30degrees latitude. Above 30degrees it decreases in absolute magnitude to a very small value at around 50degrees. At higher latitudes the gradient may reverse its sign: if so, this reversal takes place in a thin layer extending only 5 Mm beneath the visible surface, as evidenced by the most superficial modes (with degrees l>250). The signature of the torsional oscillations is seen in this layer, but no other significant temporal variations of the gradient and value of the rotation rate there are found.