Daniel

Saturn, Not Earth Or Jupiter, Has The Largest Storms In Our Solar System

“But from December of 2010 to August of 2011, the largest storm of all occurred: on Saturn. For 200+ days, this Saturnian hurricane raged, maintaining its leading “head” until May. It came to encircle the entire planet, as methane-poor tail end stands out against the relatively methane-rich remainder. Viewed 11 hours (1 Saturn-day) apart, we determined the hurricane migrated across Saturn at 60 miles-per-hour (100 kph). These storms have occurred every 20-30 years since first observed in 1876, as hot air rises, cools and falls.”

Many worlds in our Solar System have enormous storms that occur in their atmospheres. Earth routinely experiences hurricanes, with wind speeds frequently in excess of 225 kph. But what happens on the giant worlds in our Solar System dwarf anything that happens on Earth. Saturn’s hurricane at its north pole is bigger and faster than any hurricane we’ve ever seen here. Jupiter’s great red spot is bigger than the entire Earth itself. But the largest storm of all? 

“The music fits quite nicely for this little guy”

This post is for Wenona.