Wind speeds measured in the deep jovian atmosphere by the Galileo probe accelerometers (original) (raw)

Nature volume 388, pages 650–652 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

The atmosphere of Jupiter has a complex circulation which, until recently, has been observable only at the cloud tops1,2; the mechanisms driving the winds, and the nature of the interior circulation, remained unknown3. Recent analyses4,5,6 of the radio signal from the Galileo probe, obtained during its descent into the jovian atmosphere, have suggested a vigorous interior circulation below the 4-bar level. Here we report an independent measurement of the winds below the cloud tops, making use of the data obtained by the two accelerometers on the descending probe. We find evidence for two distinct wind regimes, in general agreement with the Doppler radio measurements: a region of wind shear between 1 and 4 bar, where the wind speed increases dramatically with depth; and then a region of constant high-velocity winds down to at least the 17-bar level.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Figure 1: Axial accelerations _a_z of the Galileo probe (data points) measured during parachute descent (p is atmospheric pressure).

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Figure 2: The descent velocity (d_z_/d_t_) and the probe deceleration (d_w_/d_t_) decrease with increasing atmospheric pressure (p) in parachute descent.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Figure 3: Data from accelerometers z1 (top panel) and z2 (bottom panel), reduced by the real deceleration of the probe (d_w_/d_t_) and probe swinging accelerations, compared with gravity accelerations modified for several zonal wind speeds _u_w.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Limaye, S. et al. Jovian winds from Voyager 2, Part I: zonal mean circulation. J. Atmos. Sci. 39, 1413–1432 (1982).
    Google Scholar
  2. Beebe, R. F., Simon, A. A. & Huber, L. F. Comparison of Galileo Probe and Earth-based translation rates of Jupiter's equatorial clouds. Science 272, 841 (1996).
    Google Scholar
  3. Pollack, J. B., Atkinson, D. H., Seiff, A. & Anderson, J. D. Retrieval of a wind profile from the Galileo Probe telemetry signal. Space Sci. Rev. 60, 143–178 (1992).
    Google Scholar
  4. Atkinson, D. P., Pollack, J. B. & Seiff, A. Galileo Doppler measurements of the deep zonal winds at Jupiter. Science 272, 842–843 (1996).
    Google Scholar
  5. Atkinson, D. H., Ingersoll, A. P. & Seiff, A. Deep winds on Jupiter as measured by the Galileo probe. Nature 388, 649–650 (1997).
    Google Scholar
  6. Folkner, W. M. Earth-based radio tracking of the Galileo Probe for Jupiter wind estimation. Science 275, 844–845 (1997).
    Google Scholar
  7. Seiff, A. & Knight, T. C. D. K. The Galileo Probe atmosphere structure instrument. Space Sci. Rev. 60, 203–232 (1992).
    Google Scholar
  8. Seiff, A. et al. Structure of the atmosphere of Jupiter: Galileo Probe measurements. Science 272, 844–845 (1996).
    Google Scholar
  9. Ingersoll, A. P. & Cuzzi, J. N. Dynamics of Jupiter's cloud bands. J. Atmos. Sci. 26, 981–985 (1969).
    Google Scholar
  10. Anderson, J. D. in Jupiter (ed. Gehrels, J.) 113–121 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1976).
    Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the Galileo Project and NASA's Planetary Atmospheres Program. This work was supported by NASA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA-Ames Research Centre, Moffett Field, 94035, California, USA
    A. Seiff, J. D. Mihalov & R. E. Young
  2. Department of Meteorology, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, USA
    A. Seiff
  3. NASA Langley Field, MS-107, Hampton, 23665, Virginia, USA
    R. C. Blanchard
  4. Department of Earth, Space Science, UCL, Los Angles, 90024, California, USA
    G. Schubert
  5. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, 83844, Idaho, USA
    D. Atkinson
  6. Retired,
    T. C. D. Knight & D. B. Kirk

Authors

  1. A. Seiff
  2. R. C. Blanchard
  3. T. C. D. Knight
  4. G. Schubert
  5. D. B. Kirk
  6. D. Atkinson
  7. J. D. Mihalov
  8. R. E. Young

Corresponding author

Correspondence toA. Seiff.

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Seiff, A., Blanchard, R., Knight, T. et al. Wind speeds measured in the deep jovian atmosphere by the Galileo probe accelerometers.Nature 388, 650–652 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/41721

Download citation