Jupiter changing its spots (global warming that isn't unlikey to be GWB's fault)

ananova ^ | Thursday, April 22, 2004 | ananova

[smonk]

The giant planet could be in for a major temperature shift over the next decade as most of its 'spots' - in reality huge storm systems - disappear.

But Jupiter's most famous feature, the Great Red Spot, is expected to stay put.

The planet's atmosphere contains about 80 swirling vortices which are similar to long-lived hurricanes.

The largest, the Great Red Spot - spanning 12,500 miles and large enough to swallow the Earth two or three times over - was first observed in 1665.

Scientists believe its location near the planet's equator has kept it stable. But two of three white ovals, discovered in the 1930s, vanished abruptly between 1997 and 2000.

A new computer simulation now suggests that the disappearances are merely part of a recurring climate cycle.

Over the next 10 years, Jupiter is predicted to lose most of its "spots".

This could cause a 10C warming around the equator and similar cooling at the poles, leading to the creation of new vortices.

The new spots will then take another 60 years or so to break down, American researchers reported in the journal Nature.

Study leader Professor Philip Marcus, from the University of California at Berkeley, cautioned against applying the same model to Earth's climate, which is influenced by many different factors.

But he added: "Studying other worlds helps us better understand our own, even if they are not directly analogous."

[smonk]

no word on whether or not al gore will be corking all the SUVs on Jupiter next.

[martin_fierro]

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[GeronL]

It has to be Bush's fault. It JUST has to be. /sarcasm

[Bilbo Baggins]

bump

Thanks for the links. See my homepage if you might want to add some stuff I have written.