Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-r7xzm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T07:15:57.060Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A finite-difference convective model for Jupiter's equatorial jet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2006

Kwing L. Chan*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology email: maklchan@ust.hk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We present results of a numerical model for studying the dynamics of Jupiter's equatorial jet. The computed domain is a piece of spherical shell around the equator. The bulk of the region is convective, with a thin radiative layer at the top. The shell is spinning fast, with a Coriolis number = ΩL/V on the order of 50. A prominent super-rotating equatorial jet is generated, and secondary alternating jets appear in the higher latitudes. The roles of terms in the zonal momentum equation are analyzed. Since both the Reynolds number and the Taylor number are large, the viscous terms are small. The zonal momentum balance is primarily between the Coriolis and the Reynolds stress terms.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2007

References

Aurnou, J.M. & Olson, P.L. 2001, Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 2557CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christensen, U.R. 2001, Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 2553CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, F.J. & Chan, K.L. 2001, MNRAS 321, 723CrossRefGoogle Scholar