- #1
Irfan Nafi
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Jupiter's spins the same way the Earth does, so the Coriolis effect should make the Great Red Spot spin clockwise, but it's an anti-cyclone. Why is that?
Why does the Great Red Spot spin counter-clockwise?
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SUMMARY
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter spins counter-clockwise due to the interplay between the Coriolis effect and gravity, despite the planet's rotation being similar to Earth's. In high-pressure regions, gas flows away, resulting in anti-cyclonic motion, while low-pressure areas cause clockwise rotation in the southern hemisphere. This phenomenon mirrors the behavior of anticyclones on Earth, where air moves to achieve equilibrium, similar to the dynamics observed when air escapes from an inflated balloon.
PREREQUISITES- Coriolis effect in fluid dynamics
- Understanding of high and low-pressure systems
- Basic principles of gas behavior under pressure
- Concept of equilibrium in atmospheric science
- Research the Coriolis effect in planetary atmospheres
- Study the dynamics of anticyclones and cyclones on Earth
- Explore gas laws and their implications in meteorology
- Investigate the atmospheric composition of Jupiter
Astronomers, meteorologists, and students of atmospheric science will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in planetary weather systems and the dynamics of gas behavior in different pressure environments.
- #2
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The clockwise spin (on the southern hemisphere) occurs around low pressure regions into which gravity will tend to pull gas.
In a high pressure region, gas will try to flow away, resulting in the opposite rotation. Anticyclones occur on Earth too.
The rotation is not only due to the Coriolis force, it is due to the interplay between Coriolis and gravity.
In a high pressure region, gas will try to flow away, resulting in the opposite rotation. Anticyclones occur on Earth too.
The rotation is not only due to the Coriolis force, it is due to the interplay between Coriolis and gravity.
- #3
Irfan Nafi
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Why does gas try to flow away in a high pressure region?
- #4
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Because the pressure gradient gives a resulting force on any volume of gas. It is just the same reason air generally would flow into fill a vacuum if allowed.
- #5
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This image summarises it quite neatly:
- #6
rootone
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Same as if you blow up a balloon.Irfan Nafi said:
The air inside the inflated balloon is at a higher pressure than the outside atmosphere, so if you then open the air inlet up, the air inside comes back out again.
- #7
Irfan Nafi
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So because of the high pressure the surrounding is trying to find equilibrium?
- #8
rootone
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Yes, the air masses are attempting to reach equilibrium.Irfan Nafi said:
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