The discovery of this vortex on Jupiter promises new horizons in the study of the magnetic field of the gas giant
Thanks to data obtained from the Juno probe, astronomers have uncovered new secrets of Jupiter's magnetic field. A paper published March 6 in the journal Nature provides details about phenomena hidden in the gas giant's atmosphere. One of the most interesting features is the strangely oscillating jet that appears over a period of four years. Scientists currently don't know what exactly is causing this phenomenon, but new data is revealing some key clues about Jupiter's intense magnetic field near its equator, also known as the Great Blue Spot.
The name «The Great Blue Spot» is not related to the actual color of that area. It comes from the color scale that scientists used to study the planet's magnetic field. Unlike the Earth's field, Jupiter's magnetic field is strongly deviated from the planet's rotation axis, and this asymmetry is so strong that the «spot» can be compared to the second south pole protruding from the planet's equator. In addition, part of this region is blown west by winds, while the rest blows east.
The paper's authors used data sent from a probe currently exploring Jupiter to map the «Great Blue Spot» during a series of targeted flybys conducted during its extended mission. The discovery suggests that deep within Jupiter's metallic core, like ocean waves that change their speed as they move, there may be wave-like behavior that accounts for the observed magnetic field.
Scientists previously knew that this cluster, caused by Jupiter's intense magnetic fields, drifts more than in any other area of the planet, due to strong winds penetrating the turbulent «surface» planets to a depth of 3000 kilometers. As researchers suggest, it is at this deepest point that Jupiter's magnetic field weakens these winds.
The jet can drift in this area at speeds measured in tens of centimeters per second, unlike other jets on the surface, which move many times faster.
However, Yochai Caspi, professor of atmospheric dynamics and co-investigator of the Juno mission, who was not involved in this study, notes that the results obtained are & ;very insignificant» and essentially represent the first step in research. At present there is not enough data to conclude that the jet oscillates regularly every four years: «If your data is for five years, then you cannot say anything about a four-year period».
In the near future, scientists plan to conduct additional observations using the Juno probe, which will help give more accurate answers about the dynamics of the magnetic field and understand how it interacts with the planet itself. Scientists believe that they still have new discoveries and more accurate conclusions to come.