Astronomy/Planetary stripes

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Expert: - 9/5/2010


Question
How do planetary stripes form, and why specially in planets after jupiter only?

Answer
Hello,

By "planetary stripes" I believe you mean the *atmospheric belts* that are visible in all the Jovian planets, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

So far as we can ascertain, the belts form as a result of a combination of jet streams (moving up to  100 m/s) and wind turbulent flows acting in concert on the atmospheric gases. (For example, mostly hydrogen and helium on Jupiter and Saturn). If you observe both Saturn and Jupiter in a good telescope you'll also note the cloud bands on Jupiter are generally of brighter colors. We believe the muting of colors on Saturn to be from its much colder temperatures.

To explain in more detail exactly how the cloud belts arise would be difficult, since it entails an understanding of fluid mechanics. But hopefully this answer, though short, will suffice.

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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