Perspectives in global helioseismology and the road ahead

Abstract

We review the impact of global helioseismology on key questions concerning the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun and consider the exciting challenges the field faces as it enters a fourth decade of science exploitation. We do so with an eye on the past, looking at the perspectives global helioseismology offered in its earlier phases, in particular the mid-to-late 1970s and the 1980s. We look at how modern, higher quality, longer datasets coupled with new developments in analysis have altered, refined, and changed some of those perspectives and opened others that were not previously available for study. We finish by discussing outstanding challenges and questions for the field. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.