
Abstract This work presents a six-year study aimed at characterizing the morphology and properties of the atmospheric features present in jovian cyclonic regions. It complements our previous analysis for the same period on the anticyclonic vortices (Morales-Juberias et al. 2002, Icarus 157, 76–90). The main difference between cyclonic and anticyclonic regions in Jupiter is that a variety of organized morphologies are present in the cyclonic areas, although they can be grouped consistently into five different types: filamentary turbulence related to the highest speed jets, organized folded filamentary regions, elongated areas with contours closed by a ribbon-like feature, discrete, closed brown cyclones (“barges”), and peculiar transient structures such as short wave trains and cyclonic cells. We present data on their color contrast, size, aspect ratio, distribution, lifetimes, relation to the jet system and to the anticyclones, and motions (global and internal to the features). Most cyclonic features show a rapid evolution, compared to the anticyclones, and tend to be dispersed zonally although some survive for a few years. We used the barges that are the most representative, long-lived, and extended type of cyclonic features to show that there exists a linear relationship between their relative velocity and the mean zonal flow speed, similar to that found in our previous work on the anticyclones. There is also some evidence that the drift rate of barges is related to the planetary minus flow vorticity gradient.
330, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], [PHYS.ASTR] Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
330, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], [PHYS.ASTR] Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
| citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 21 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
