Abstract
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is viewed as a vortex that arises naturally from the equations of motion of the jovian atmosphere. Here I solve numerically the equations governing fluid motion in a model of the jovian atmosphere for a variety of initial conditions. Large spots of vorticity form spontaneously in chaotic azimuthal flows and are stable if the vorticity of the spots has the same sign as the shear of the surrounding azimuthal flow. The Great Red Spot is compared with these solutions and a new prediction of its vertical structure is made.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ingersoll, A. P. & Cuong, P. G. J. atmos. Sci. 38, 2067–2076 (1981).
Pedlosky, J. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (Springer, New York, 1979).
Conrath, B. J., Flasar, F. M., Pirraglia, J. A., Gierasch, P. J. Hunt, G. E. J. geophys. Res. 86, 8769–8775 (1981).
Limaye, S. S. Icarus 65, 335–352 (1986).
Marcus, P. S. in Numerical Analysis (eds Griffiths, D. F. & Watson, G. A.) 125–139 (Longman Scientific and Technical, Harlow, 1986).
Sommeria, J., Meyers, S. D., Swinney, H. L. Nature 331, 689–693 (1988).
Rhines, P. B. & Young, W. R. J. Fluid Mech 122, 347–367 (1982).
Williams, G. P. J. atmos. Sci. 36, 932–968 (1979).
Marcus, P. S. J. Fluid Mech. (submitted).
Low, M.-M., M. & Ingersoll, A. P. Icarus 65, 353–369 (1986).
Beebe, R. F. & Hockey, T. A. Icarus 67, 96–105 (1986).
Mitchell, J. L., Beebe, R. F., Ingersoll, A. P. & Garneau, G. W. J. geophys. Res. 86, 8751–8757 (1981).
Smith, B. A. & Hunt, G. E. in Jupiter (ed. Gehrels, T.) 564–585 (University of Arizona Press, Tuscon, 1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marcus, P. Numerical simulation of Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Nature 331, 693–696 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331693a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/331693a0
This article is cited by
-
Rotating quantum wave turbulence
Nature Physics (2023)
-
Remote determination of the shape of Jupiter’s vortices from laboratory experiments
Nature Physics (2020)
-
Surface chirality induced by rotational electrodeposition in magnetic fields
Scientific Reports (2013)
-
Intensity of vortices: from soap bubbles to hurricanes
Scientific Reports (2013)
-
Applications of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation to the study of the stability and sensitivity of the Jovian atmosphere
Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2006)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.