Evidence for multiple Ferrel-like cells on Jupiter

Abstract

Jupiter's atmosphere is dominated by multiple jet streams which are strongly tied to its 3D atmospheric circulation. Lacking a rigid bottom boundary, several models exist for how the meridional circulation extends into the planetary interior. Here we show, collecting evidence from multiple instruments of the Juno mission, the existence of mid-latitudinal meridional circulation cells which are driven by turbulence, similar to the Ferrel cells on Earth. Different than Earth, which contains only one such cell in each hemisphere, the larger, faster rotating Jupiter can incorporate multiple cells. The cells form regions of upwelling and downwelling, which we show are clearly evident in Juno's microwave data between latitude 60S and 60N. The existence of these cells is confirmed by reproducing the ammonia observations using a simplistic model. This study solves a long-standing puzzle regarding the nature of Jupiter's sub-cloud dynamics and provides evidence for 8 cells in each Jovian hemisphere.

13 pages, 5 figures, Supporting information. Accepted to Geophysical Research Letters

References in corpus (12)

• Constraints on Deep-seated Zonal Winds Inside Jupiter and Saturn
• New models of Jupiter in the context of Juno and Galileo
• The water abundance in Jupiter's equatorial zone
• Explaining Jupiter's magnetic field and equatorial jet dynamics
• Jupiter's Ammonia Distribution Derived from VLA Maps at 3--37 GHz
• Combined magnetic and gravity measurements probe the deep zonal flows of the gas giants
• Anelastic spherical dynamos with radially variable electrical conductivity
• Jupiter's Temperate Belt/Zone Contrasts Revealed at Depth by Juno Microwave Observations
• Storms and the Depletion of Ammonia in Jupiter: II. Explaining the Juno Observations
• Constraints on the latitudinal profile of Jupiter's deep jets
• The range of Jupiter's flow structures fitting the Juno asymmetric gravity measurements
• Ammonia in Jupiter's troposphere from high-resolution 5-\textmu m spectroscopy

Cited by in corpus (17)

• Jupiter Science Enabled by ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
• Ammonia Abundance Derived from Juno MWR and VLA Observations of Jupiter
• Zonal winds of Uranus and Neptune: Gravitational harmonics, dynamic self-gravity, shape, and rotation
• Gas Giant Simulations of Eddy-Driven Jets Accompanied by Deep Meridional Circulation
• Saturn's Seasonal Variability from Four Decades of Ground-Based Mid-Infrared Observations
• Mid-Infrared Observations of the Giant Planets
• Depth Dependent Dynamics Explain the Equatorial Jet Difference Between Jupiter and Saturn
• Direct driving of simulated planetary jets by upscale energy transfer
• From gas to ice giants: A unified mechanism for equatorial jets
• Wind shear and the role of eddy vapor transport in driving water convection on Jupiter
• Three-dimensional atmospheric dynamics of Jupiter from ground-based Doppler imaging spectroscopy in the visible
• Structure of Jupiter's High-Latitude Storms: Folded Filamentary Regions Revealed by Juno
• Nonuniform Water Distribution in Jupiter's Mid Latitudes: Influence of Precipitation and Planetary Rotation
• Dynamical constraints on the vertical structure of Jupiter's polar cyclones
• An idealized general circulation model for the atmospheric circulation on the ice giants
• Model of deep zonal flows in giant planets
• The deep atmosphere of Jupiter