  Temporal variations of the subsurface meridional flow with the solar cycle
have been reported by several authors. The measurements are typically averaged
over periods of time during which surface magnetic activity existed in the
regions were the velocities are calculated. The present work examines the
possible contamination of these measurements due to the extra velocity fields
associated with active regions plus the uncertainties in the data obtained
where strong magnetic fields are present. We perform a systematic analysis of
more than five years of GONG data and compare meridional flows obtained by
ring-diagram analysis before and after removing the areas of strong magnetic
field. The overall trend of increased amplitude of the meridional flow towards
solar minimum remains after removal of large areas associated with surface
activity. We also find residual circulation toward the active belts that
persist even after the removal of the surface magnetic activity, suggesting the
existence of a global pattern or longitudinally-located organized flows.
