Meridional Circulation with Latitude Bands of Long-Lived Cyclones in Jupiter’s Convective Atmosphere

Abstract

Mayr et al. [1] proposed that the vertical velocities in the global scale meridional circulation can produce distinct latitude bands where Jovian vortices like the white and brown are observed, and we present here a brief review of the mechanism. The observed life times of the ovals are much longer than the estimated spin-down times, which indicates that the vortices must be sustained through the release of internal energy. Like Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS), the white/brown ovals are treated like terrestrial hurricanes or cyclones, which are generated by convection. The planetary energy Jupiter emits is transferred by convection, and under this condition the upward motions in the meridional circulation, around the equator for example, release energy from below and decrease the convective instability to suppress the formation of cyclones. But the downward motions in the circulation, near 20˚ latitude for example, carry energy down so that the convective instability is amplified to produce a dynamical environment that is favorable for the development of cyclones like the GRS and white/brown ovals. This picture is supported by an analysis of results from a numerical model of Jupiter's alternating jets (Chan and Mayr [2]). Generated by alternating vertical winds in the meridional circulation, the vertical temperature variations reveal distinct latitude bands with enhanced convective instability, most prominent at high latitudes where long-lived circumpolar cyclones are observed from the Juno spacecraft.