Theories on Neptune temp change?

Apr 20, 2022
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Yes. It is unexpected, but it is because a different mechanism controls the temperature.

It is strange to us, because we expect nearer the Sun to be warmer.

Cat :)
I personally think the clouds are, for some reason, just pooling towards the equator and leaving very sparse overcast at the poles, the south pole especially.
 
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Catastrophe

"Science begets knowledge, opinion ignorance.
Yes. :) I think the previous one was especially useful, in that both planets could be visited in one shot. I think that window is closed and it has to be one or the other. Difficult choice.

Cat :)
 
It's mildly interesting that the color of Neptune matches the peak energy output of the Sun. Assuming the color is due to scattering, this would actually make Neptune cooler since the blue color we see is the color rejected (scattered) not absorbed. [I doubt this is anything more than some novelty from a heliochromologist, admittedly. ;)]
 
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Nov 10, 2020
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In the context of the observed changes beyond just seasonal shifts its important to note that you can get shifts from internal dynamical cycles such as El Nino/La Nina related to rates of ocean overturning in the Pacific. Given that Neptune's main heat source appears to be primarily internal I would suspect that changes in the rate of upwelling are quite important here.
 
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