Open AccessCassini imaging of Saturn: Southern hemisphere winds and vortices
Author(s) -
Vasavada A. R.,
Hörst S. M.,
Kennedy M. R.,
Ingersoll A. P.,
Porco C. C.,
Del Genio A. D.,
West R. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005je002563
Subject(s) - saturn , vortex , polar vortex , northern hemisphere , geology , southern hemisphere , physics , atmosphere (unit) , wavelength , polar , atmospheric sciences , astronomy , climatology , meteorology , planet , optics
High‐resolution images of Saturn's southern hemisphere acquired by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem between February and October 2004 are used to create maps of cloud morphology at several wavelengths, to derive zonal winds, and to characterize the distribution, frequency, size, morphology, color, behavior, and lifetime of vortices. Nonequatorial wind measurements display only minor differences from those collected since 1981 and reveal a strong, prograde flow near the pole. The region just southward of the velocity minimum at 40.7°S is especially active, containing numerous vortices, some generated in the proximity of convective storms. The two eastward jets nearest the pole display periodicity in their longitudinal structure, but no direct analogs to the northern hemisphere's polar hexagon or ribbon waves were observed. Characteristics of winds and vortices are compared with those of Saturn's northern hemisphere and Jupiter's atmosphere.