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How Well Do We Understand the Belt/Zone Circulation of Giant Planet Atmospheres?
- Source :
- Space Science Reviews, Space Science Reviews, Springer Verlag, 2020, 216 (2), ⟨10.1007/s11214-019-0631-9⟩
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- The atmospheres of the four giant planets of our Solar System share a common and well-observed characteristic: they each display patterns of planetary banding, with regions of different temperatures, composition, aerosol properties and dynamics separated by strong meridional and vertical gradients in the zonal (i.e., east-west) winds. On Jupiter, the reflective white bands of low temperatures, elevated aerosol opacities, and enhancements of quasi-conserved chemical tracers are referred to as 'zones.' Conversely, the darker bands of warmer temperatures, depleted aerosols, and reductions of chemical tracers are known as `belts.' On Saturn, we define cyclonic belts and anticyclonic zones via their temperature and wind characteristics, although their relation to Saturn's albedo is not as clear as on Jupiter. On distant Uranus and Neptune, the exact relationships between the banded albedo contrasts and the environmental properties is a topic of active study. This review is an attempt to reconcile the observed properties of belts and zones with (i) the meridional overturning inferred from the convergence of eddy angular momentum into the eastward zonal jets at the cloud level on Jupiter and Saturn and the prevalence of moist convective activity in belts; and (ii) the opposing meridional motions inferred from the upper tropospheric temperature structure, which implies decay and dissipation of the zonal jets with altitude above the clouds. These two scenarios suggest meridional circulations in opposing directions, the former suggesting upwelling in belts, the latter suggesting upwelling in zones. This presents an unresolved paradox for our current understanding of the banded structure of giant planet atmospheres, that could be addressed via a multi-tiered vertical structure of 'stacked circulation cells.' [Abridged]<br />Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures, Space Science Reviews, accepted
- Subjects :
- Solar System
Atmospheres
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
[SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP]
FOS: Physical sciences
Zonal and meridional
Atmospheric sciences
01 natural sciences
Article
Jupiter
Neptune
Planet
Saturn
0103 physical sciences
Giant planets
Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
010303 astronomy & astrophysics
Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics
ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
[SDU.ASTR.SR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR]
Uranus
Giant planet
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Dynamics
13. Climate action
Space and Planetary Science
Physics::Space Physics
Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Geology
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00386308 and 15729672
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Space Science Reviews
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6bcfda54b77cf4516115800f9922f75d
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0631-9