Jupiter’s weather layer exhibits long-term and quasi-periodic cycles of meteorological activity that can completely alter the appearance of its bands and zones. Although 5 m radiation, which provides a view of the cloud-generating regions of the troposphere, cycles at intervals of 4 to 9 years, depending on latitude, their origin has remained a mystery.
Academics at the University of Leeds believe they could have found the answer to a long-running mystery behind Jupiter’s famous ‘streaks’. NASA’s Juno mission made the discovery possible by providing new information about Jupiter’s magnetic field.
Professor Chris Jones from the university’s School of Maths said: “If you look at Jupiter through a telescope, you can see the stripes that go around the equator along the lines of latitude. There are dark and light bands, and if you look a little closer, you can see clouds flying around that are being carried by extraordinarily strong easterly and westerly winds. The wind blows east near the equator, but if you change latitude a bit, north or south, it will go west. And then, if you go a little further out, it goes east again. This alternating pattern of eastward and westward winds is very different from Earth’s weather.”
This new research has shown that these variations may in turn be generated by waves created by the planet’s magnetic field deep in the planet’s interior. Scientists already know that Jupiter’s changing appearance is somehow related to infrared variations about 50km below the gas giant’s surface.
Their research team was able to track and determine changes in Jupiter’s magnetic field using information obtained by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting the planet since 2016.
Professor Jones added: “It’s possible to get wave-like motion in a planetary magnetic field called torsional oscillations. The exciting thing is that when we calculated the periods of these torsional oscillations, they matched the periods you see in the infrared radiation on Jupiter.”
Juno has been in orbit for much longer than expected, thanks to its incredible durability in Jupiter’s hostile radiation environment. As a result, the Leeds researchers have access to magnetic field data for a significantly longer period of time, which is very useful for their research.
They have been able to track the waves and oscillations of the magnetic field by observing it over a longer period of time. They even tracked down a particular magnetic field spot on Jupiter called the Great Blue Spot.
Juno has been in orbit for much longer than expected, thanks to its incredible durability in Jupiter’s hostile radiation environment. As a result, the Leeds researchers have access to magnetic field data for a significantly longer period of time, which is very useful for their research.
They have been able to track the waves and oscillations of the magnetic field by observing it over an extended period of time. They even tracked down a particular magnetic field spot on Jupiter called the Great Blue Spot.
Dr. Kumiko Hori of the university’s School of Maths said: “Uncertainties and questions remain, particularly how exactly the torsional oscillation produces the observed infrared variation, which likely reflects the complex dynamics and cloud/aerosol responses. Those need more research. Nevertheless, I hope our paper can also open a window to explore the hidden deep interior of Jupiter, just as seismology does for the Earth and helioseismology does for the Sun.’
“The breakthrough is the culmination of a lifelong passion for Jupiter. I’m incredibly happy that NASA has finally managed to see Jupiter’s magnetic field in detail. I’ve been studying Jupiter for an exceptionally long time, and I became interested in what lies beneath Jupiter’s surface when I was a kid – it’s been a 60-year progression.
Magazine reference:
- Hori, K., Jones, CA, Antuñano, A. et al. Jupiter’s cloud-level variability is caused by torsional oscillations in its interior. Wet Astron (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-01967-1
