The Great Red Spot is the largest atmospheric vortex in the solar system. This vortex, which has been swirling in Jupiter’s atmosphere for at least two centuries, is larger in size than planet Earth. Scientists have now discovered how deep this vortex goes, going beyond size.
In two studies published in the journal Science, researchers used instruments aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft to further probe Jupiter’s vortices, discovering how deep it descends into the atmosphere. According to the results obtained, the depth of the Great Red Spot reaches 500 kilometers. This is an impressive new record for a storm with a radius of 16,000 kilometers.
Dr. Scott Bolton and his colleagues used microwave observations to study the motion of the planet’s enormous storms. The team studied the Great Red Spot and two other storms, one located 19 degrees north and the other 33 degrees north. Using the Microwave Radiometer, they measured the emission of different layers of the atmosphere to a depth of 600 kilometers.
The Great Red Spot and the vortex located 19 degrees north are areas of high atmospheric pressure. The team found that the behavior in these eddies is consistent with the theoretical model, but also found that the midplane of the storm is at the height at which water and ammonia condense. The Great Red Spot is even deeper than the other two and stretches tens of kilometers below this level.
56372
