New theory of the Great Red SPOT from solitary waves in the Jovian atmosphere
Abstract
It is shown that many characteristics of the Great Red Spot (GRS) and numerous other features that have been observed on Jupiter can be explained by solitary waves on a horizontally sheared zonal flow in a rotating, stratified atmosphere. Streamline patterns for waves corresponding to combined depression-elevation solitary waves (D-E solitrons) show a strong resemblence to the flow around the GRS. The morphology and flow pattern of the South Tropical Disturbance indicate that it was a D solitron. Numerous spot-like features situated in regions between cloud bands where horizontal shear forces might be expected have the morphology of E solitrons. Restrictions placed on the atmospheric parameters by the model are consistent with available models and observations.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- April 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1038/260509a0
- Bibcode:
- 1976Natur.260..509M
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Circulation;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Jupiter Red Spot;
- Shear Flow;
- Solitary Waves;
- Astronomical Models;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Atmospheric Physics;
- Barotropic Flow;
- Flow Distribution;
- Laminar Flow;
- Zonal Flow (Meteorology);
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration;
- ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION;
- JUPITER ATMOSPHERE;
- JUPITER RED SPOT;
- SHEAR FLOW;
- SOLITARY WAVES;
- ASTRONOMICAL MODELS;
- ATMOSPHERIC MODELS;
- ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- BAROTROPIC FLOW;
- FLOW DISTRIBUTION;
- LAMINAR FLOW;
- ZONAL FLOW (METEOROLOGY)