The dynamical structure of giant planets

Details The dynamical structure of giant planets The dynamical structure of giant planets

Dec 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufmgp23b1009h&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #GP23B-1009

Statistics

Computation

[0545] Computational Geophysics / Modeling, [1595] Geomagnetism And Paleomagnetism / Planetary Magnetism: All Frequencies And Wavelengths, [5700] Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets, [5724] Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets / Interiors

Scientific paper

The surface winds of Jupiter and Saturn likely penetrate deep into outer H-He fluid that envelops their liquid metal interiors. Assuming that the Proudman-Taylor theorem holds for the azimuthal flow outside the tangent cylinder bounded by the equatorial jet, we can infer flow velocities at depth. Using this cylindrically radial velocity profile, along with published electrical conductivity models of the predominantly Hydrogen and Helium interiors, we estimate force balances in the transition to the giant planets' liquid metal cores. Considering the radial conductivity structure inferred from the existing literature on high pressure experiments and ab-initio EOS models, we estimate that induced Lorentz forces at depth in the equatorial jets are strong enough to balance the Reynolds stresses near the maximum depth of zonal flow inferred from the surface winds. These estimates are consistent with numerical dynamo models with radially variable conductivity. The transition from fast zonal flow to slow magnetically controlled flow occurs in the semiconducting region outside the liquid metal core. The relationship between the structure of equatorial jets and the magnetic fields generated in the giant planets imply that major differences between the surface zonal flow of Jupiter and Saturn arise from the different depths of, and conditions within, a transition layer analogous to the Solar tachocline. This transition layer, which we refer to as the planetary tachocline, separates the high velocity, semiconducting molecular envelope from the slow moving liquid metal interior dynamo.

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