COFFIES - Developing a Reliable Physical Model of the Solar Activity Cycle

The solar activity cycle is the Consequence Of Fields and Flows in the Interior and Exterior of the Sun (COFFIES). The COFFIES Drive Science Center ultimately aims to develop a data driven model of solar activity. The challenging goals are 1) to understand the generation of the quasi-periodic stellar magnetic cycles, 2) further develop 3D physical models of interior dynamics and convection, 3) establish the physical links between solar flow fields and near-surface observations, and 4) develop more robust helioseismic techniques to resolve solar interior flows. To reach these goals the COFFIES team is focusing on what is needed to answer five primary science questions: 1) What drives varying large-scale motions in the Sun? 2) How do flows interact with the magnetic field to cause varying activity cycles? 3) Why do active regions emerge when and where they do? 4) What do the manifestations of activity and convection reveal about the internal processes? And 5) How does our understanding of the Sun as a star inform us more generally about activity dynamics and structure? The virtual COFFIES center is bringing together a broad spectrum of observers, analysts, theorists, computational scientists, and educators who collaborate through interacting teams focused on helioseismology, dynamos, solar convection, surface links, numerical modeling, center effectiveness, outreach, education, diversity and inclusion.