Air Circulations on Jupiter

Air circulations on earth transfer energy from lower latitude to higher latitude, so energy distribution becomes more uniform on each region. However, this mechanism also works on other planets such as Jupiter.

On Jupiter, the main composition of atmosphere is H2 and He. On the other hand, CH4 , H2O, NH3, and H2S only take up little fractions. The atmosphere can also be divided into a few layers by how temperature differs in terms of height , similar to earth.

There is a famous theory called the three-circulation on earth. Similarly, there are several circulations on Jupiter. Since Jupiter is much bigger, there are more circulations. On Jupiter, we can categorize the surface into two types, zones and belts, by atmospheric movements. Zone looks brighter and air descends there, so the top of Troposphere(對流層) is lower and therefore it is warmer. Belt is the opposite. Between belts and zones are jet streams which means a fast airflow. Just like there is strong west wind jet stream on earth.

The red spot is actually an anticyclone (反氣旋) twice of the earth size. Unlike a cyclone on earth only last for few days, the red spot on Jupiter has already existed for 300 years . What makes it last for so long? Scientists thought that it receives energy from the jet streams around.

Doesn't it sounds amazing? What we are all familiar on earth (air circulation, jet stream, cyclone...) also happens on other planets in different appearances!