Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufm.p51b1428l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #P51B-1428
Physics
5700 Planetology: Fluid Planets, 5705 Atmospheres: Evolution, 5707 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 5739 Meteorology (3346), 6220 Jupiter
Scientific paper
Since Voyager times, observations have suggested that Jupiter's zonal jets violate the barotropic stability criterion (BSTC) (Ingersoll et al., 1981; Limaye, 1986; Li et al., in press). Recently, images from the Cassini Imaging Science System (ISS) (Porco et al., 2003; Li et al., in press) and from the Galileo imaging system (Little et al., 1999; Gierasch et al., 2000) have revealed important features of moist convection on Jupiter and suggest that moist convection may be driving the zonal jets. Here we investigate the interaction of moist convection with the zonal jets in a reduced-gravity quasi-geostrophic model using a moist convection parameterization that is based on the new observations. Our study shows that moist convection can excite multiple jets when the velocity of the flow in the deep underlying layer is zero, but these jets never violate the BSTC. However, based on a model of the interaction between the magnetic field and the zonal flow, Liu and Stevenson (2003, DPS 35th meeting) predict that there are easterly flows in the deep underlying layer at middle latitudes. With easterly flows in the deep underlying layer we can get stable multiple jets that violate the BSTC. Furthermore, the modeled jets have almost same width and amplitude as the observed jets. An easterly flow in the lower layer provides a simple explanation for why the upper layer jets are stable even though they violate the BSTC. The model reproduces the tilted, chevron-shaped cloud features provided we assume that the clouds persist longer than the moist convective storms that produce them.
Huang Xing
Ingersoll P. A. P. A.
Li Lexin
No associations
LandOfFree
Interaction of Moist Convection With Jupiter's Zonal Jets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Interaction of Moist Convection With Jupiter's Zonal Jets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interaction of Moist Convection With Jupiter's Zonal Jets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1454208