12.03.20
JunoCam Monitors Evolution of Circumpolar Cyclones
Juno discovered 8 cyclones positioned in the form of an octagon around the north pole and 5 forming a pentagon around the south pole.
JunoCam images show that the constellation of circumpolar cyclones has remained stable since discovery 2 years ago.
JunoCam images show that the constellation of circumpolar cyclones has remained stable since discovery 2 years ago.
Individual cyclone observed repeatedly
Each southern cyclone is ~4000 km wide with velocities first increasing then decreasing from the center outwards, similar to Earth’s hurricanes.
JunoCam images from orbits 1-15 track cyclones and measure velocities
Wind velocities measured in collaboration with citizen scientists ~100 m/sec, among the highest measured for cyclones on Jupiter.
Pentagonal pattern of southern cyclones slowly drifts westward by ~0.04 m/s (0.14 km/hr).
Pentagonal pattern of southern cyclones slowly drifts westward by ~0.04 m/s (0.14 km/hr).
Juno discovered 8 cyclones positioned in the form of an octagon around the north pole and 5 forming a pentagon around the south pole.
Credit: Tabataba-Vakili, F., J., et. al., Icarus, in press, 2019.
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