US Researchers Uncover Abnormal Ammonia Distribution in Saturn’s Atmosphere, Sheds Light on Impact of Historic Superstorms
In a groundbreaking study published in the scientific journal ‘Science Advances’, a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has uncovered a fascinating phenomenon occurring in Saturn’s atmosphere. Similar to Jupiter’s infamous Great Red Spot, it seems that the ringed planet is also subject to massive storms that can last for hundreds of years.
Using radio waves emitted from Saturn, the team detected traces of a colossal storm that occurred centuries ago and still lingers deep in the planet’s atmosphere. This hurricane-like storm, although on a much grander scale, has been observed to appear approximately every 20 to 30 years.
To further investigate this celestial phenomenon, Professor Imke de Pater from the University of California, Berkeley, utilized the advanced Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico, USA. This allowed the researchers to analyze the inner workings of Saturn’s atmosphere and reveal an abnormal distribution of ammonia gas concentration. Intriguingly, the team connected this peculiar occurrence to the historic mega-storm that took place in Saturn’s northern hemisphere.
Ammonia concentrations were found to be lower at intermediate altitudes just beneath the top layer of the ammonia ice cloud, but significantly higher at deeper levels, between 100 and 200 km. The researchers concluded that during mega-storms, ammonia rains down from the upper atmosphere and gradually permeates the layers below through re-evaporation. This fascinating process can persist for centuries.
Moreover, the study underscored the stark dissimilarities between Saturn and its gas giant neighbor, Jupiter. Although both planets contain hydrogen gas, the tropospheric anomalies observed on Jupiter are primarily due to differences in the white and dark band areas, rather than storms like those found on Saturn.
This groundbreaking discovery challenges existing assumptions about giant storms on gas planets and other celestial bodies. It may influence future approaches to studying and identifying giant storms on exoplanets. The research team believes that by applying radio observations to a broader cosmic context, such as the study of heat transport, cloud formation, and convection in giant planet atmospheres, new boundaries in terrestrial meteorology can be established.
“Radio observations help reveal phenomena such as heat transport, cloud formation, and convection in the atmospheres of giant planets,” explains Li Cheung, professor at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study. “By applying it to a wider cosmic context, we will be able to expand the boundaries of terrestrial meteorology.”
This remarkable finding not only sheds light on Saturn’s mysterious storms but also provides valuable insights into the dynamic nature of giant planets. As our understanding of these celestial phenomena deepens, it may redefine our understanding of the universe and its vast array of planetary systems.
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US research team “Discovers abnormal distribution of ammonia concentration in the atmosphere… Impact of past superstorms”
A study has found that Saturn has huge storms that last for hundreds of years and affect the atmosphere, just like Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, which is famous for being the biggest storm in the solar system.
A research team from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, analyzed radio waves emitted from Saturn in the scientific journal ‘Science Advances’ on the 14th, and traces of a huge storm that occurred hundreds of years ago in still deep in the atmosphere. He said they found that out
A huge hurricane-like storm, but on a much larger scale, is known to blow on Saturn every 20 to 30 years.
A radio image of Saturn taken in May 2015 by the Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico, USA. Ammonia in Saturn’s atmosphere blocks radio waves, so the bright areas are regions where the ammonia has been depleted and the VLA can see deeper into the atmosphere. A broad bright band in northern latitudes suggests that the ammonia gas below the visible ice clouds was depleted following the 2010 mega storm. [R. J. Sault and I. de Pater 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
Professor Imke de Pater from the University of California, Berkeley, who has been studying gaseous planets in the solar system for over 40 years, investigated radio waves emitted from deep inside Saturn with the Carl G. Jansky radio telescope Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, USA.
Through this, the research team discovered an abnormal distribution of ammonia gas concentration in the atmosphere, and found that the cause was linked to a huge storm that occurred in the northern hemisphere.
Ammonia concentrations were found to be low at intermediate altitudes just below the top layer of the ammonia ice cloud, but higher at lower altitudes, 100 to 200 km deeper.
The research team believes that during megastorms, ammonia rains down and travels down from the upper atmosphere through re-evaporation, an effect that can last for hundreds of years.
Optical images show a smooth transition of different color bands of the atmosphere, but VLA radiographs show more distinct banding. Analysis of VLA data revealed that megastorms transport ammonia from the upper atmosphere to lower levels. [S.Dagnello(NRAO/AUI/NSF), I.de Pater et al(UC Berkeley) 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지]
The study also revealed that Saturn and Jupiter, both of which contain hydrogen gas, are very different. Tropospheric anomalies are also seen on Jupiter, but this is due to the difference between the white area and the dark band area, not due to storms like Saturn.
The stark differences between these gas giant neighbors run counter to current assumptions about giant storms occurring on gas planets and other planets, and could affect how we discover and study giant storms on exoplanets in the future, said the team.
“Radio observations help reveal phenomena such as heat transport, cloud formation, and convection in the atmospheres of giant planets,” said Li Cheung, a professor at the University of Michigan and lead author of the paper. By applying it to a wider cosmic context, we will be able to expand the boundaries of terrestrial meteorology.”
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