Premium
Saturn's New Ribbons: Cassini Observations of Planetary Waves in Saturn's 42N Atmospheric Jet
Author(s) -
Gunnarson Jacob L.,
Sayanagi Kunio M.,
Blalock John J.,
Fletcher Leigh N.,
Ingersoll Andrew P.,
Dyudina Ulyana A.,
Ewald Shawn P.,
Draham Robert L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2018gl078156
Subject(s) - saturn , rossby wave , baroclinity , physics , geology , atmospheric wave , jet propulsion , magnetosphere of saturn , astronomy , pluto , geophysics , planet , gravity wave , gravitational wave , atmospheric sciences , magnetosphere , plasma , climatology , magnetopause , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Using images from the Cassini spacecraft, we analyzed three ribbon waves in Saturn's 42°N eastward jet at 45°N, 42°N, and 39°N planetocentric latitudes. In this report, we demonstrate that the morphology, wavelength, and propagation of the ribbon waves are consistent with barotropic Rossby waves with a smaller baroclinic component. We report on the appearance and disappearance of these waves during Cassini's mission. We suggest that the temporal evolution of these waves are related to the great Saturn storm of 2010–2011.