Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn
Numerous land- and space-based observations have established that Saturn has a persistent hexagonal flow pattern near its north pole. While observations abound, the physics behind its formation is still uncertain. Although several phenomenological models have been able to reproduce this feature, a s...
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ftpubmed:oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:7322008 2023-05-15T17:39:50+02:00 Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn Yadav, Rakesh K. Bloxham, Jeremy 2020-06-23 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7322008/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32513703 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 en eng National Academy of Sciences http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7322008/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32513703 http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 https://www.pnas.org/site/aboutpnas/licenses.xhtmlPublished under the PNAS license (https://www.pnas.org/site/aboutpnas/licenses.xhtml) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Physical Sciences Text 2020 ftpubmed https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 2020-12-13T01:18:54Z Numerous land- and space-based observations have established that Saturn has a persistent hexagonal flow pattern near its north pole. While observations abound, the physics behind its formation is still uncertain. Although several phenomenological models have been able to reproduce this feature, a self-consistent model for how such a large-scale polygonal jet forms in the highly turbulent atmosphere of Saturn is lacking. Here, we present a three-dimensional (3D) fully nonlinear anelastic simulation of deep thermal convection in the outer layers of gas giant planets that spontaneously generates giant polar cyclones, fierce alternating zonal flows, and a high-latitude eastward jet with a polygonal pattern. The analysis of the simulation suggests that self-organized turbulence in the form of giant vortices pinches the eastward jet, forming polygonal shapes. We argue that a similar mechanism is responsible for exciting Saturn’s hexagonal flow pattern. Text North Pole PubMed Central (PMC) North Pole Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117 25 13991 13996 |
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English |
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Physical Sciences |
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Physical Sciences Yadav, Rakesh K. Bloxham, Jeremy Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
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Physical Sciences |
description |
Numerous land- and space-based observations have established that Saturn has a persistent hexagonal flow pattern near its north pole. While observations abound, the physics behind its formation is still uncertain. Although several phenomenological models have been able to reproduce this feature, a self-consistent model for how such a large-scale polygonal jet forms in the highly turbulent atmosphere of Saturn is lacking. Here, we present a three-dimensional (3D) fully nonlinear anelastic simulation of deep thermal convection in the outer layers of gas giant planets that spontaneously generates giant polar cyclones, fierce alternating zonal flows, and a high-latitude eastward jet with a polygonal pattern. The analysis of the simulation suggests that self-organized turbulence in the form of giant vortices pinches the eastward jet, forming polygonal shapes. We argue that a similar mechanism is responsible for exciting Saturn’s hexagonal flow pattern. |
format |
Text |
author |
Yadav, Rakesh K. Bloxham, Jeremy |
author_facet |
Yadav, Rakesh K. Bloxham, Jeremy |
author_sort |
Yadav, Rakesh K. |
title |
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
title_short |
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
title_full |
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
title_fullStr |
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
title_full_unstemmed |
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn |
title_sort |
deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on saturn |
publisher |
National Academy of Sciences |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7322008/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32513703 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 |
geographic |
North Pole |
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North Pole |
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North Pole |
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North Pole |
op_source |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |
op_relation |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7322008/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32513703 http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 |
op_rights |
https://www.pnas.org/site/aboutpnas/licenses.xhtmlPublished under the PNAS license (https://www.pnas.org/site/aboutpnas/licenses.xhtml) . |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000317117 |
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
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117 |
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25 |
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13991 |
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13996 |
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1766140600761974784 |