re: The Sun: Surface Artifacts Formation and Stability
There are few basic problems with that assesment. First you've yet to explain what holds magnetic fields in a stratified layer at .995R. Secondly you've yet to explain the carrier processes that hold a magnetic structure in 3D and creates a "stratified layer" that is capable of blocking the flow of plasma. You've also not explained what a plasma blocking, "stratified layer" is doing in the middle of the convection zone.
The sun itself is a huge magnetic field. It is supported by galactic rotation and sets the rate of rotation in the field itself. When plasma is ejected from the corona in a flare, it exhibits polarity. The plasma is charged. These loops look identical to magnetic field loops.
Blocking plasma is done by magnetic fields in the same manner. The magnetic field blocks the flow of plasma by setting up a field biased with the same polarity as surrounding plasma. As soon as the charge is negated, the structure, artifact or sunspot collapses.
When I talk about plasma following "lines of force" there is a specific meaning there.
The stratified layer is magnetically sustained. Plasma of varying degrees of charge relative to the greater field align themselves in stratified layers according to density. The density of the plasma, if it is charged, determines its distance within the field-because the denser plasma will have a greater charge than the less dense plasma. All plasma is not created equal and on the sun has differing magnetic properties.
LAYER 1 X% + Charge
LAYER 2 Y% + Charge
Etcetera
More Etcetera
As you can see the plasma seeks balance, not necessarily by pressure as we might conventionally assume with a convective surface, but rather by magnetic relationships within the enormous solar field.
That's how the structures are sustained and how plasma is blocked, manipulated and flows with rotational currents of different speeds on the sun.