Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures

Details Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures

May 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008natur.453..196o&link_type=abstract

Nature, Volume 453, Issue 7192, pp. 196-199 (2008).

Computer Science

18

Scientific paper

Observations of oscillations of temperature and wind in planetary atmospheres provide a means of generalizing models for atmospheric dynamics in a diverse set of planets in the Solar System and elsewhere. An equatorial oscillation similar to one in the Earth's atmosphere has been discovered in Jupiter. Here we report the existence of similar oscillations in Saturn's atmosphere, from an analysis of over two decades of spatially resolved observations of its 7.8-μm methane and 12.2-μm ethane stratospheric emissions, where we compare zonal-mean stratospheric brightness temperatures at planetographic latitudes of 3.6° and 15.5° in both the northern and the southern hemispheres. These results support the interpretation of vertical and meridional variability of temperatures in Saturn's stratosphere as a manifestation of a wave phenomenon similar to that on the Earth and in Jupiter. The period of this oscillation is 14.8+/-1.2 terrestrial years, roughly half of Saturn's year, suggesting the influence of seasonal forcing, as is the case with the Earth's semi-annual oscillation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures 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 Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Semi-annual oscillations in Saturn's low-latitude stratospheric temperatures will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1075353