Venus Southern Polar Double Vortex

[yevaud]

<b>Venus's double vortex evolves over time in new videos</b><br /><br /><i>The mysterious double vortex in the clouds above Venus's south pole has been filmed over relatively long periods by Europe's Venus Express spacecraft. The videos should help scientists better understand the forces that shape the unusual structure.<br /><br />Just after it began orbiting the planet in April 2006, Venus Express spotted something resembling a double-eyed hurricane in the clouds over the planet's south pole (see ).<br /><br />The pattern is thought to be a product of the super-strong winds that tear westward around the planet. But scientists do not understand why the winds produce a double vortex rather than a single one.<br /><br />The Venus Express team released animations in July 2006 showing cross sections of the double vortex structure at different altitudes (see Venus's double vortex mystery deepens).<br /><br />Now, Venus Express has captured videos of the roiling structure showing how it evolves over time, which could hold clues to the double vortex's origins. Watch the double vortex videos.<br /><br />The videos were made using the spacecraft's Ultraviolet, Visible and Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIRTIS). They show the evolution of the double vortex over periods of hours and days. The images used to make the videos were obtained between 7 and 11 April 2007.</i><br /><br />ESA Video <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks Yevaud.<br /><br />I wonder if the changing vortex is evidence of atmospheric pressure changes at lower latitudes <br />(such as High & Low pressure systems)?<br /><br />Perhaps it will be possible to determine the depth of the vortex?<br /><br />Another thing, perhaps in conjunction is to check whether or not lightning discharges <br />follow a similar pattern?<br /><br />Shame that ESA do not update often, but this is a fascinating find.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Hard to say. I've never specifically studied the dynamics of the Venusian atmosphere. I imagine though, that it's quite odd, given the composition of the atmosphere, the pressure scale, and the temperatures. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Yes I agree. It is very odd Yevaud.<br /><br />Also Venus has no seasons as such, with virtually no axial tilt, not to mention that its orbit around the Sun <br />is only a minute eccentricity.<br /><br />The fact that the movie clearly shows that the vortex changes shape, clearly shows that is is being <br />disrupted, by weather systems at lower latitudes, otherwise it would be a stable feature, <br />which clearly it is not.<br /><br />Most odd indeed.<br /><br />Hopefully, there will be follow on studies.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Just as an educated guess, it's all severe temperature differentials. The poles receive the least solar insolation - must be a pretty fierce gradient as you approach the poles. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

That is likely so.<br /><br />AFAIK, the temperature varies only 4 C over the entire mean level on Venus.<br /><br />I have put an image from Magellan of the south polar gegion of Venus, to see if anyone else thinks that the varying ortex is due to surface topography.<br /><br />I do not think so.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

I as well. Few (if any) are the surface features that can cause and steer something of this nature. This is, I think, a form of coriolis storm, caused by rotation and a steep (well, relatively) temperature gradient. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>