The Juno space probe is delving deeper into the clouds of Jupiter. So far, Juno has provided new insights into how water behaves within the clouds of the giant planet.
The spacecraft has also revealed the reasons behind the stable formation of cyclones at the poles.
Juno employs gravity techniques to explore the extent of the rings and atmosphere surrounding this colossal planet. This allows it to detect conditions thousands of miles or kilometers beneath the cloud tops. Additionally, magnetic field measurements have proven effective.
Juno has been in orbit around Jupiter since 2016.
Below the gaseous envelope of Jupiter, hydrogen behaves more like a liquid than a gas. This phenomenon affects the dynamics of the atmosphere.
Moreover, a microwave radiometer has shown a strange reversal in a massive storm on Jupiter, where temperatures suddenly shift from warm to cold.
The principal investigator of Juno, Scott Bolton, stated: “What we are observing are the ‘roots’ of the storm penetrating through the clouds and sunlight.”
This phenomenon differs from Earth, where the atmosphere is influenced by water, condensation, and sunlight. According to Bolton, this is also a sign that ammonia and water are moving up and down.
Lori Glaze, Director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA headquarters in Washington, commented: “These new observations from Juno open up a treasure trove of information about the mysterious observational characteristics of Jupiter. Each paper sheds light on different aspects of planetary atmospheric processes. This is a great example of how our diverse international scientific teams enhance our understanding of our Solar System.”
Since entering orbit around Jupiter in 2016, each time the spacecraft passes the planet, a specialized set of instruments has observed beneath its turbulent cloud layer.
The atmospheric temperature of Jupiter is conducive to the formation of a water cloud about 65 km below the cloud tops. When looking through this layer, the Juno probe made a surprising discovery. The rings became dark in microwave readings while certain areas became bright.
This is in stark contrast to what we have seen in shallower cloud regions. This is referred to as the transitional layer “jovicline” – located approximately 45 to 80 km beneath the visible clouds.
“Cline” denotes a layer within a fluid where properties change significantly. The oceans on Earth have a thermal line that separates the mixed surface water from the cold, deep water below. The jovicline may separate the weather layer forming shallow clouds from the depths below. This surprising result implies that some factor is moving ammonia around.
