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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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In summary, the Great Red Spot on Jupiter spins clockwise due to the Coriolis effect, but it's an anti-cyclone because of the interplay between Coriolis and gravity. This is similar to Earth's weather patterns. In high pressure regions, gas will try to flow away due to the pressure gradient, just like how air flows out of an inflated balloon. This is because the air masses are trying to reach equilibrium.
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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.
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Irfan Nafi
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Why does gas try to flow away in a high pressure region?
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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.
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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?
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rootone
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Yes, the air masses are attempting to reach equilibrium.Irfan Nafi said:
Related to Why does the Great Red Spot spin counter-clockwise?
What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?
The Great Red Spot is a giant storm on the planet Jupiter that has been continuously observed for over 300 years. It is a swirling, oval-shaped disturbance in the planet's atmosphere that is larger than Earth.
Why does the Great Red Spot have a red color?
The Great Red Spot gets its name from its red color, which is caused by the presence of trace amounts of compounds such as phosphorus and sulfur in the planet's atmosphere. These compounds react with sunlight and produce a red hue.
What causes the Great Red Spot to spin counter-clockwise?
The Great Red Spot is located in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter and is influenced by the planet's strong winds and jet streams. These winds move eastward, causing the storm to spin in a counter-clockwise direction.
How long has the Great Red Spot been spinning?
The Great Red Spot has been observed since the 17th century, making it one of the longest continuously observed weather phenomena in our solar system. However, it is possible that the storm has been spinning for even longer, as there is evidence of a similar storm in ancient recordings from the 12th century.
Is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter permanent?
While the Great Red Spot has been observed for hundreds of years, it is not known if it will last forever. Scientists have observed changes in its size and shape over time, and some believe that it may eventually dissipate or merge with other storms on the planet.
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