Saturn's south polar vortex compared to other large vortices in the solar system
Observations made by the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and the long-wavelength Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) aboard the Cassini spacecraft reveal that the large, long-lived cyclonic vortex at Saturn's south pole has a 4200-km-diameter...
Published in: | Icarus |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2009
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14801/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14801/2/mmc1.mpg https://authors.library.caltech.edu/14801/3/mmc2.avi https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20090804-165518718 |
Summary: | Observations made by the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and the long-wavelength Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) aboard the Cassini spacecraft reveal that the large, long-lived cyclonic vortex at Saturn's south pole has a 4200-km-diameter cloud-free nearly circular region. This region has a 4 K warm core extending from the troposphere into the stratosphere, concentric cloud walls extending 20–70 km above the internal clouds, and numerous external clouds whose anticyclonic vorticity suggests a convective origin. The rotation speeds of the vortex reach 150 ± 20 ms^-1 . The Saturn polar vortex has features in common with terrestrial hurricanes and with the Venus polar vortex. Neptune and other giant planets may also have strong polar vortices. |
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