IOP Publishing, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, (271), p. 012074, 2011
DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/271/1/012074
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We present updated observations of the pattern of migrating solar zonal flows known as the torsional oscillation, covering 15 years of helioseismic measurements with GONG and MDI and 30 years of surface Doppler observations from Mount Wilson. We compare the behavior of the flows during the extended solar minimum following Cycle 23 with that in earlier minima. We demonstrate that the timing of the migration of the zonal flow belts may be of some use in predicting the start of the new cycle. We also note that the behavior of the high-latitude part of the pattern currently differs from that seen early in the previous cycle, with the high-latitude poleward-migrating branch still not established.