Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Space Science Review...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Space Science Reviews
Article . 2019 . Peer-reviewed
License: Springer TDM
Data sources: Crossref
versions View all 1 versions
addClaim

This Research product is the result of merged Research products in OpenAIRE.

You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.

Atmospheric Dynamics and Vertical Structure of Uranus and Neptune’s Weather Layers

Authors: Ricardo Hueso; Agustín Sánchez-Lavega;

Atmospheric Dynamics and Vertical Structure of Uranus and Neptune’s Weather Layers

Abstract

The Icy Giants Uranus and Neptune have similar rotation periods, large orbital inclinations and intense zonal winds at the visible cloud level. The winds are organized into three broad jets: a zonal jet that flows to the West at low latitudes and single jets that flow to the East in each hemisphere at mid and high-latitudes. The intensity of the winds observed at the cloud level remains a mystery considering the small energy available at the distance of the planets to the Sun. Both planets have zonal bands with low contrast that do not correlate with the structure of the winds. They also have dark anticyclones and bright cloud systems but present striking differences in the abundance of these features and their size and latitudinal distribution. The bands and major meteorological systems are observed at altitudes compatible with methane clouds and observational evidence suggests the presence of a deeper cloud of hydrogen sulfide and a latitudinal variation of hydrogen sulfide and methane with depletion of methane at high latitudes and more detectable hydrogen sulfide near the poles. Other chemical species like ammonia hydrosulfide and water should condense forming deep clouds at pressures of tens to hundreds of bars. A small number of bright features in both planets are good candidates for moist convective storms possibly powered by methane condensation. The expected deep abundances of volatiles in these cold atmospheres are at least 10 times larger than those on Jupiter and Saturn making the global distribution of volatiles a key feature to determine the stability of the atmosphere, influencing also the vertical wind shear and inhibiting the development of large moist convective storms. The combination of deep massive clouds, weak solar and internal heat forcing, extremely long seasons and potential effects in favor and against moist convection place these planets in a dynamic regime unlike any other in Solar System planets. Here we explore the observed meteorology at cloud level and the deep “weather layers” of these planets. We show that a combination of orbital and in situ data will probably be required to answer satisfactorily outstanding questions in the behavior of these atmospheres.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    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).
    25
    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.
    Top 10%
    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.
    Top 10%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
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).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
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.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
25
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%
Upload OA version
Are you the author? Do you have the OA version of this publication?