Saturn's Zonal Winds at Cloud Level

Sánchez‐Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Sada, Pedro V.

doi:10.1006/icar.2000.6449

Cited by 138 publications

(164 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Satellite observations show clear evidence of multiple alternating zonal jets extending from the equator to the polar regions in the atmospheres of Jupiter (Limaye 1986) and Saturn (Sanchez-Lavega et al 2000). In numerical simulations of the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, jets are found to emerge spontaneously from random initial conditions, in good agreement with observations in all four cases (Cho and Polvani 1996b).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

The Dynamics of Baroclinic Zonal Jets*

Williams

Kelsall

2015

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

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Multiple alternating zonal jets are a ubiquitous feature of planetary atmospheres and oceans. However, most studies to date have focused on the special case of barotropic jets. Here, the dynamics of freely evolving baroclinic jets are investigated using a two-layer quasigeostrophic annulus model with sloping topography. In a suite of 15 numerical simulations, the baroclinic Rossby radius and baroclinic Rhines scale are sampled by varying the stratification and root-mean-square eddy velocity, respectively. Small-scale eddies in the initial state evolve through geostrophic turbulence and accelerate zonally as they grow in horizontal scale, first isotropically and then anisotropically. This process leads ultimately to the formation of jets, which take about 2500 rotation periods to equilibrate. The kinetic energy spectrum of the equilibrated baroclinic zonal flow steepens from a 23 power law at small scales to a 25 power law near the jet scale. The conditions most favorable for producing multiple alternating baroclinic jets are large baroclinic Rossby radius (i.e., strong stratification) and small baroclinic Rhines scale (i.e., weak root-mean-square eddy velocity). The baroclinic jet width is diagnosed objectively and found to be 2.2-2.8 times larger than the baroclinic Rhines scale, with a best estimate of 2.5 times larger. This finding suggests that Rossby wave motions must be moving at speeds of approximately 6 times the turbulent eddy velocity in order to be capable of arresting the isotropic inverse energy cascade.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

The Dynamics of Baroclinic Zonal Jets*

Williams

Kelsall

2015

Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences

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“…This kind of changes between 1995 and 2000 can be noted at many latitudes, without significant changes in the zonal winds. As an example a notorious variation between both epochs occurred at 33ºS following the three consecutive merges of the anticyclones known as the White Oval Spots (Sánchez-Lavega et al 2000. This is apparent in the ultraviolet periodograms which …”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Brightness power spectral distribution and waves in Jupiter's upper cloud and hazes

Barrado-Izagirre

Pérez‐Hoyos

Sánchez‐Lavega

2009

Icarus

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To cite this version:N. Barrado-Izagirre, S. Pérez-Hoyos, A. Sánchez-Lavega. Brightness power spectral distribution and waves in Jupiter's upper cloud and hazes. Icarus, Elsevier, 2009, 202 (1) This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. infrared and blue wavelengths, average spectral slopes are n 1 = -1.3 ± 0.4 for shorter wavenumbers (k < 80), and n 2 = -2.5 ± 0.7 for greater wavenumbers, whereas for the ultraviolet n 1 = -1.9 ± 0.4 and n 2 = -0.7 ± 0.4, possibly showing a different dynamical regime. We find a turning point in the spectra between both regimes at wavenumber k ~ 80 (corresponding to L ~ 1000 km) for all wavelengths.

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“…4) [18][19][20][21][22]. A major and persistent problem is that the rotation period taken as a reference frame for the atmospheric motions is not fixed from radio-rotation measurements, and ranges between 10 hr 39 min 24 s and 10 hr 46 min [18,[23][24][25].…”

Section: Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kronos: exploring the depths of Saturn with probes and remote sensing through an international mission

et al. 2008

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Kronos is a mission aimed to measure in situ the chemical and isotopic compositions of the Saturnian atmosphere with two probes and also by remote sensing, in order to understand the origin, formation, and evolution of giant planets in general, including extrasolar planets. Xe/ 129 Xe isotopic ratios will be measured by mass spectrometry on two probes entering the atmosphere of Saturn at two different locations near mid-latitudes, down to a pressure of 10 Bar. The global composition of Saturn will be investigated through these measurements, together with microwave radiometry determination of H 2 O and NH 3 and their 3D variations. The dynamics of Saturn's atmosphere will be investigated from: (1) measurements of pressure, temperature, vertical distribution of clouds and wind speed along the probes' descent trajectories, and (2) determination of deep winds, differential rotation and convection with combined probe, gravity and radiometric measurements. Besides these primary goals, Kronos will also measure the intensities and characteristics of Saturn's magnetic field inside the D ring as well as Saturn's gravitational field, in order to constrain the abundance of heavy elements in Saturn's interior and in its central core. Depending on the preferred architecture (flyby versus orbiter), Kronos will be in a position to measure the properties of Saturn's innermost magnetosphere and to investigate the ring structure in order to understand how these tiny structures could have formed and survived up to the present times.

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Saturn's Zonal Winds at Cloud Level

Cited by 138 publications

References 34 publications

The Dynamics of Baroclinic Zonal Jets*

The Dynamics of Baroclinic Zonal Jets*

Brightness power spectral distribution and waves in Jupiter's upper cloud and hazes

Kronos: exploring the depths of Saturn with probes and remote sensing through an international mission

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