Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New Storm on Jupiter Hints at Climate Change
www.space.com ^ | 04 May 2006 | Sara Goudarzi

Posted on 05/04/2006 10:38:47 AM PDT by RightCanuck

A storm is brewing half a billion miles away and in a rare event, astronomers get to watch it closely.

Jupiter is growing a new red spot and the Hubble Space Telescope is photographing the scene. Backyard astronomers have been following the action, too.

"Red Spot Jr." as it is being called, formed after three white oval-shaped storms—two of which were at least 90 years old—merged between 1998 and 2000.

A similar merger took place centuries ago and formed the bigger and legendary Great Red Spot, a storm twice as big as Earth and almost 300 years old.

Close look

Close inspections of Red Spot Jr., in Hubble images released today, reveal that similar to the Great Red Spot, the more recently developed storm rises above the top of the main cloud deck on Jupiter.

Little is known about how storms form on the giant planet. They are often described as behaving similar to hurricanes on Earth. Some astronomers believe that the spots dredge up material deep below Jupiter's clouds and lift it to where the Sun's ultraviolet light chemically alters it to give it a red hue.

The latest images could provide evidence that Jupiter is in the midst of a global change that can modify temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit on different parts of the globe.

The study was led jointly by Imke de Pater and Philip Marcus of University of California, Berkeley.

"The storm is growing in altitude," de Pater said. "Before when they were just ovals they didn't stick out above the clouds. Now they are rising."

This growth signals a temperature increase in that region, she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bushsfault; christophergo; climatechange; globalwarming; greatredspot; jupiter; littleredspot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 next last
To: weegee

Is there tossed salad on Uranus?


21 posted on 05/04/2006 10:51:17 AM PDT by RedRightReturn (Even a broken clock is right twice a day...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: nh1
I believe we need to adjust our terminology: It's no longer just global warming, but Solar System Warming that we are now responsible for.
22 posted on 05/04/2006 10:51:18 AM PDT by TravisBickle (Are you talkin' to me?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RightCanuck
Jupiter is growing a new red spot

Given the behavior of Jupiter as chronicled in Graeco-Roman mythology, a few STD symptoms are only to be expected.

23 posted on 05/04/2006 10:52:21 AM PDT by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RexBeach
Imagine Ray Nagin dealing with a 90-year-old storm? My word, there aren't enough buses in the universe for that...nor excuses.

come back to Nwalins Jupitor Children....I promise you it will be a Chocolate Nwalins Jupitor and I will be serving my chocolate salty balls.


24 posted on 05/04/2006 10:53:58 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RightCanuck
10 degrees Fahrenheit

That would still keep Jupiter about 250 degrees south of freezing.

25 posted on 05/04/2006 10:56:12 AM PDT by Semper Paratus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vaquero

LOL!!!!!!!


26 posted on 05/04/2006 10:56:30 AM PDT by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: KenD

http://www.enterprisemission.com/hurricane4.htm

Take a look at this link and scroll about 1/3 to 1/2 way down and you will see a pic with the planets on them including the Sun which gives a statement on how GW (global warming) has affected them.

I think it's time we eliminate SUVs from all other planets to stop the GWB (Global Warming Boondoggle).

You think the Martians and the Jupiterians will go along with that?


27 posted on 05/04/2006 10:57:00 AM PDT by freddymuldoon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

"It's Bush's fault, of course. Probably because of that scientific probe that he sent into the Jupiter atmosphere."

It could be. Read this article.

http://www.enterprisemission.com/NukingJupiter.html


28 posted on 05/04/2006 10:58:54 AM PDT by freddymuldoon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Patrick1
We should send Algore there pronto.

Hear, hear!

29 posted on 05/04/2006 10:59:56 AM PDT by FormerLib ("...the past ten years in Kosovo will be replayed here in what some call Aztlan.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RightCanuck

30 posted on 05/04/2006 11:01:23 AM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightCanuck

31 posted on 05/04/2006 11:01:43 AM PDT by Denver Ditdat (Yo quiero secure borders.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freddymuldoon
Well, if it's on the internet it's gotta be true, right? Find out the real truth HERE!
32 posted on 05/04/2006 11:04:24 AM PDT by Seruzawa (If you agree with the French raise your hand - If you are French raise both hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: RightCanuck

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast121/lectures/lec19.html

Jupiter link, it's a gas!


33 posted on 05/04/2006 11:04:57 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TravisBickle

I couldn't be responsible for Solar System Warming, I only drive on cold days. Must be someone else's fault.


34 posted on 05/04/2006 11:07:28 AM PDT by nh1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: RedRightReturn

The Great Dark Spot on Uranus appears and disappears.
http://www.solarsystem.org.uk/neptune/

"Although similar in many ways, the Great Dark Spot seems to have been formed much deeper in the atmosphere than Jupiter’s blemish. The Dark Spot was thought to be a long-term feature, but observations by Voyager 2 and the Hubble space telescope showed the marking disappear rapidly and then reappear elsewhere. Apparently extremely rapid large-scale changes are common on Neptune."


35 posted on 05/04/2006 11:09:57 AM PDT by freddymuldoon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

I gotta get me one of those!

I want mine in the shape of a pyramid though.


36 posted on 05/04/2006 11:11:03 AM PDT by freddymuldoon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: freddymuldoon
Um, actually, I was thinking more of this commercial (click on "psyched" at the lower right of the page) where Jr. is telling Dad to get his head out of his "bun". But yours has a certain 'je ne sais quoi' aspect to it...
37 posted on 05/04/2006 11:16:29 AM PDT by Zeppo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: freddymuldoon

I agree. The point being though, that even elimintating the SUV (or other "sources" of CO2) from the equation, the EFFECTS of GW, caused primarily by increased output from the Sun would STILL be disruptive.


38 posted on 05/04/2006 11:17:35 AM PDT by KenD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Denver Ditdat

Jupiter gets another zit.


39 posted on 05/04/2006 11:22:12 AM PDT by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: nh1

This shows that global warming is much, much, worse than previously thought.


LOL


40 posted on 05/04/2006 11:22:17 AM PDT by VOATNOW1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson