Jupiters Great Red Spot

On Jupiter, the biggest planet of our solar system, an anti-cyclonic vortex (a hurricane),
better known as the Great Red Spot rages in the southern part of the planet, reaching
heights of eight km above the surrounding clouds.
1
It was first observed by Giovanni Cassini
400 years ago, but many believe that it existed long before.
The exact dimensions of the Great Red Spot fluctuate from time to time as the storm is not
fixed on one particular spot. They vary from 24 000 40 000 km in length and 12 000
14 000 km in height. To give you an idea of this enormous size of the storm; it is as large as
the surface area of two or three planets of the same size as the Earth (see image below). It is
the largest and oldest storm of our solar system. It can reach high wind speeds, up to 435
km/h! This is close to the speed of Earths fastest tornado.
2

Scientists have monitored changes in the colour of the storm over the years, from reddish to
gray. There is a strong correlation between the colour and several factors. These include the
temperature (the highest temperature found in the storm is -157 C), wind speeds, pressure
and ratio of sulphur and phosphorus in the atmosphere.
3

It is still unknown why the storm has been around for so long. Scientists have tried to
recreate the hurricane using computer models with the information they had collected
about the storms conditions, nevertheless these simulations were not stable and did not
last long.
4

Even though the Great Red Spot has been around for many years and will continue to do so,
it is expected to disappear one day. The storm has been shrinking; its diameter has
decreased 15 % in ten years. Scientists do not yet agree with each other as to why this is
happening. Quoted below, is an opinion of a scientist from the University of California.
We don't fully understand all the sources of energy, or the ways the Red Spot loses energy,
but these can become slightly imbalanced for a period of time, and this is likely to be what is
causing the Red Spot to shrink -- less energy is being fed in and more is slowly dissipating
away."
5
- Xylar Asay-Davis
As you can see, there is still a lot to discover about the Great Red Spot. So, while the storm is
shrinking, our knowledge will hopefully expand.

1
http://www.universetoday.com/15163/jupiters-great-red-spot/
2
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/g/great_red_spot.htm
3
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/jupiter-spot/
4
http://cosmoquest.org/blog/365daysofastronomy/2009/
01/27/january-27-jupiters-great-red-spot/
5
http://www.space.com/6386-jupiter-great-red-spot-shrinking.html
Charlotte van
der Nagel
Karen van
der Werff
B4A
ANW
05/06/13
References