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Solar activity refers to spectacular magnetic phenomena observed on the Sun, such as sunspots, coronal loops, flares, or coronal mass ejections. However the root causes of solar activity are not understood. Why does the Sun have a magnetic field? Why does the number of sunspots change so abruptly over a period of eleven years? In order to answer such questions, one must understand the motions that maintain the magnetic field in the solar interior. Observations of solar oscillations can tell us about the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun, just like earthquakes can tell us about the interior of the Earth. In this talk I will give an overview of the methods and achievements of helioseismology, the science that consists of interpreting the oscillations seen at the solar surface to make images of the solar interior. Important results include maps of solar internal rotation and other flow patterns, which play a crucial role in models of the solar dynamo. |