Work

The Cycles and Dynamical Properties of Convective Outbreaks in Jupiter's Highest Speed Jet From a 55‐Year Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Jupiter's most intense jet at planetographic latitude 23.7°N experiences vigorous planetary‐scale disturbances. The onset consists of the outbreak of 1–3 bright clouds of convective origin developing turbulent plumes. Observed events between 1970 and 2025 shows a cycle of activity with a period in the range of 3.8–5.1 yrs interrupted between 1990 and 2007 by a large period of 17.1 yrs without eruptions. The 2020 and 2025 plumes emerged at the anticyclonic and cyclonic sides of the jet, respectively. They undergo meridional migrations and zonal accelerations during the first 2–3 days of their life, moving toward the jet's peak and exceeded its maximum speed. We propose that interactions between the plume vorticity, the background flow in the jet and planetary vorticity force these meridional motions. A combination of solar radiative forcing of the upper troposphere and convective potential energy build‐up at water clouds could generate the cycle.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2025gl118481