Posted on 01/22/2014 1:55:01 PM PST by BenLurkin
Scientists looking at Venus Express data confirmed that gravity waves in Venus' clouds are concentrated near the planet's high northern latitudes, especially above Ishtar Terra, one of two continental landmasses on Venus, which is about the size Australia. These patterns occur in the planet's uppermost clouds, some 37 to 43 miles (60 to 70 km) high.
"We believe that these waves are at least partly associated with atmospheric flow over Ishtar Terra, an upland region which includes the highest mountains on Venus," researcher Silvia Tellmann of the University of Cologne said in a statement from ESA. "We don't yet fully understand how such topographic forcing can extend to high levels, but it seems likely to be one of the key processes for the generation of gravity waves at high northern latitudes on Venus.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
They don’t know what gravity is, but they know it comes in waves.
Venus topographical map
Interesting but what the heck are gravity waves?
“Not to be confused with ripples in space and time known as gravitational waves, the gravity waves in a planet’s atmosphere can occur when winds whip over geological features like a mountain’s face or crater wall and the updraft rises and sinks in a layer of stable air above. Condensation in the rising air can produce clouds, creating a pattern of waves moving in the same direction, spaced at regular intervals.”
So, really, just interesting cloud patterns, and nothing to do with gravity.
I had no idea that gravity waves were so colorful.
I as hoping somebody here would know.
|
Waves at the beach are also gravity waves.
It is a cloaked Romulan space probe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.