Mission Juno fixes wave loops on Jupiter

Mission Juno fixes wave loops on Jupiter

On the photo from JunoCam on February 2, 2017 three waves were recorded. The image was obtained during the fourth span of the Yunon apparatus, past Jupiter. The region is part of a dark band north of the planet's equator - Northern equatorial belt.

Massive structures of moving air, moving in the atmosphere of Jupiter in waves, were first discovered by NASA's Voyager missions during a gas giant's passage in 1979. JunoCam camera aboard the ship Juno also managed to reflect the atmosphere. New data found atmospheric wave plumes - towering atmospheric structures that stretch one after another. Most of it is located near the equator of Jupiter.

The JunoCam camera allowed small distances between the individual wave crests in the loops, which was not possible before. Loops consist of two waves or tens, and distances between crests reach 65-1200 km. The wave structure in one photo allowed us to estimate the height of a single wave to a mark of 10 km.

Mission Juno fixes wave loops on Jupiter

On the photo from JunoCam on February 2, 2017 three waves were recorded. The image was obtained during the fourth span of the Yunon apparatus, past Jupiter. The region is part of a dark strip north of the equator of the planet - the northern equatorial belt.

Most of the waves are shown in elongated loops scattered in the east-west direction with wave crests perpendicular to the orientation of the loops. Waves also appear near other atmospheric objects of Jupiter, such as vortices or flow lines. Some wave loops look as if they converge, while others overlap (it is possible that we are talking about two different atmospheric levels). The analysis continues, but it is already believed that most of the waves are representatives of atmospheric gravitational waves (up and down) that form in the atmosphere over something that disrupts the air flow. This may be an upward flow of thunderstorms, disruptions in the flow of other objects or mysterious phenomena, which are still unknown.

JunoCam is uniquely qualified to make such a discovery. This is a color camera with visible light, offering a wide-angle field of view for capturing magnificent views of Jupiter's poles and cloud peaks. The camera was added to enlighten the public, but it also performs scientific tasks.

The ship Juno was launched on August 5, 2011 from Cape Canaveral (Florida) and arrived on Jupiter’s orbit on July 4, 2016. To date, Juno has completed 15 passes. The 16th is to be held on October 29th. During the flybys, the vehicle is studying auroras to learn more about the origin, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere of the planet.

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