Surface Inflows Toward Active Regions in Solar Dynamo Models: A Short Review

Surface inflows toward solar Active Regions (ARs) are horizontal plasma movements that play a significant role in shaping solar magnetic activity and dynamo processes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on these inflows within solar dynamo frameworks—Babcock-Leighton, Flux Transport, and Mean-Field models highlighting their consistent presence across ARs and their dual impact of enhancing flux cancellation while limiting flux dispersal. Acting as a nonlinear feedback mechanism, inflows modulate polar field buildup and axial dipole amplitude, influencing solar cycle strength, with effects more pronounced in strong cycles. Observational advances, such as helioseismic data and high-resolution imaging, alongside 3D simulations, underscore their ties to meridional circulation and cycle amplitude. Yet, uncertainties remain regarding their drivers—magnetic versus thermal—and their full integration into dynamo models, particularly concerning turbulent pumping and deep flows. This study identifies trends, gaps, and future research directions, emphasizing the critical role of surface inflows in linking local AR dynamics to global solar behaviour.