Storms are common on Jupiter, but these red-appearing spots seem to be much more violent than the other storms. Astronomers think that their turbulence causes material from Jupiter’s interior to move outward where it is eventually exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. Such activity is thought to cause such areas (“spots”) to turn a reddish color.

Astonomers have been noticing lately that the average temperature on Jupiter has increased by about 15 to 20 degrees (Fahrenheit), or 27 to 36 degrees (Celsius). However, the temperature rise has been occurring at the equatorial region of the planet, while the south pole has seen a lowering of temperature.

Such an overall rise in temperature could be the reason why this additional storm spot has appeared. If so, additional red spots may also be seen in the future. Currently, several white spots are present.

According to the University of California, at Berkeley, press release “New Hubble, Keck images show turbulent Jupiter,” this new spot on the planet is a “major upheaval” in Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Such activity could be an early sign of a major climate change on the large gas planet.

American astronomer De Pater, who is with the University of California, Berkeley, and the lead researcher with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), states, “One of the most notable changes we observe in both the Hubble and Keck images is the change from a rather bland, quiescent band surrounding the Great Red Spot just over a year ago to one that is incredibly turbulent at both sides of the spot. During all previous HST observations and spacecraft encounters, starting with Voyager in 1979, such turbulence was seen only on the west or left side of the spot."

According to Hubble team member Philip S. Marcus, a professor of fluid dynamics at UC Berkeley, Jupiter may be in the middle of global climate change that might increase temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Celsius. Such change could make the equator much.

Marcus stated, "The appearance of the planet's cloud system from just north of the equator down to 34 degrees south latitude keeps surprising us with changes and, in particular, with new cloud features that haven't been previously observed. Whether or not Jupiter's climate has changed due to a predicted warming, the cloud activity over the last two and a half years shows dramatically that something unusual has happened." [UC-Berkeley]

Amateur astronomers can acquire positional data about cloud features on Jupiter at the JUPOS website.

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Climate Change  Jupiter  Planet  Science  William Atkins