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Deep winds beneath Saturn’s upper clouds from a seasonal long-lived planetary-scale storm

Author

Listed:
  • A. Sánchez-Lavega

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad del País Vasco, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • T. del Río-Gaztelurrutia

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad del País Vasco, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • R. Hueso

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad del País Vasco, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Spain)

  • J. M. Gómez-Forrellad

    (Esteve Duran Observatory Foundation, 08553 Seva, Spain)

  • J. F. Sanz-Requena

    (Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, C/Padre Julio Chevalier, 47012 Valladolid, Spain)

  • J. Legarreta

    (EUITI, Universidad País Vasco, Plaza de la Casilla 3, 48012 Bilbao, Spain)

  • E. García-Melendo

    (Esteve Duran Observatory Foundation, 08553 Seva, Spain
    Institut de Ciències de l’Espai (CSIC-IEEC), Campus UAB, Facultat de Ciències, Torre C5, parell, 2a pl., E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • F. Colas

    (Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris, UMR 8028 CNRS, 77 av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France)

  • J. Lecacheux

    (Observatoire de Paris, LESIA, 5, Place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France)

  • L. N. Fletcher

    (Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK)

  • D. Barrado-Navascués

    (Observatorio de Calar Alto, Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán, MPIA-CSIC, 04004 Almería, Spain)

  • D. Parker

    (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), 12911 Lerida Street)

Abstract

Storm brewing on Saturn's sixth giant storm Six Great White Spot (GWS) events have been observed in the atmosphere of Saturn since 1876. These giant convective storms occur roughly once every Saturnian year (equal to 29.5 Earth years). The sixth GWS erupted in December 2010 and has been the subject of intense observation. Two papers in this issue present the details of some of these observations. Sánchez-Lavega et al. report that the storm developed at northern latitudes in the peak of a weak westward jet during early northern springtime. The storm head moved faster than the jet and triggered a disturbance that circled the planet. Numerical simulations show that Saturn's winds extend without decay deep down into the weather layer. Fischer et al. report that the storm reached a width of 10,000 kilometres within three weeks. Its lightning flash rates are an order of magnitude greater than those seen in previous storms, peaking at more than 10 flashes per second.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Sánchez-Lavega & T. del Río-Gaztelurrutia & R. Hueso & J. M. Gómez-Forrellad & J. F. Sanz-Requena & J. Legarreta & E. García-Melendo & F. Colas & J. Lecacheux & L. N. Fletcher & D. Barrado-Navascué, 2011. "Deep winds beneath Saturn’s upper clouds from a seasonal long-lived planetary-scale storm," Nature, Nature, vol. 475(7354), pages 71-74, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:475:y:2011:i:7354:d:10.1038_nature10203
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10203
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