Is the famous gyre on Jupiter the result of atmospheric convection?
The red spot in Jupiter’s atmosphere has persisted for more than 300 years, at least as long as there have been telescopes on Earth able to see it. The consensus opinion is that it is a cyclonic storm driven by rising heat from below. However, exactly how it was formed and why it has persisted for so long remain a mystery. The oval-shaped spot varies in size, from approximately 19,500 kilometers long to over 39,000 kilometers, with a maximum width of around 21,000 kilometers. In comparison, Earth is 12,800 kilometers in diameter. Wind speeds around its perimeter have been measured at 635 kilometers per hour, twice as fast as a terrestrial tornado. Planetary scientists are not sure what causes its red color. In fact, they are not sure why the gas giant planets exhibit unique overall color schemes. Optical instruments reveal that Neptune has a green color, Uranus a blue, Saturn a pale yellow, and Jupiter a rusty red appearance. A recent announcement from the European Southern Observatory
