EPIC Simulations of Bright Companions to Neptune's Great Dark Spots

Stratman, P. W.; Showman, Adam P.; Dowling, T. E.; Sromovsky, Lawrence A.

doi:10.1006/icar.2001.6603

Cited by 48 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…On September 1 several bright clouds are visible, reminiscent of a dark spot associated with "companion" clouds (sometimes referred to as the "northern cloud complex") discussed by Stratman et al (2001) and Sromovsky et al (2002). Latitudes just south of the equator between −15°a nd 0°appear to be cloud free.…”

Section: Imaging Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neptune’s zonal winds from near-IR Keck adaptive optics imaging in August 2001

Martin

Pater

Marcus

2011

Astrophys Space Sci

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We present H-band (1.4-1.8 µm) images of Neptune with a spatial resolution of ∼0.06 , taken with the W.M. Keck II telescope using the slit-viewing camera (SCAM) of the NIRSPEC instrument backed with Adaptive Optics. Images with 60-second integration times span 4 hours each on UT 20 and 21 August, 2001 and ∼1 hour on UT 1 September, 2001. These images were used to characterize the overall brightness distribution on Neptune, and to determine rotations periods (which translate into wind speeds) of individual cloud features.The images show that the spatial brightness distribution of cloud features, in particular the bright bands at midsouthern latitudes and near 30°N, changed considerably between 1989 (Voyager era) and 2001. The brightest features extend latitudinally over several degrees, and despite the different velocities in different latitude bands, these bright features remain coherent. We show that these features are bright in part because of the foreshortening effect near the limb, which suggests that the features may be composed of small bright clouds that happen to line up near the limb.At certain latitudes (mid-southern and northern latitudes), there is considerable dispersion in relative rotation periods (and hence zonal velocities) of faint and moderately

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Section: Imaging Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of atmospheric waves has been suggested in the past by several authors (e.g., Hammel and Lockwood 1997;Sromovsky et al 2001a;Stratman et al 2001). In the next section we make a first quantitative attempt to look for and identify such waves.…”

Section: Variation In Zonal Speedsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Neptune’s zonal winds from near-IR Keck adaptive optics imaging in August 2001

Martin

Pater

Marcus

2011

Astrophys Space Sci

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“…Stratman et al (2001) have shown, for example, that slightly deeper vortices can generate a greater amount of companion cloud material. It may also be possible that deeper vortices might generate less blue absorption.…”

Section: Discussion: Visibility Of Vorticesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Although displaced in latitude from the center of the NGDS, the companions have the same longitudinal drift rates as the NGDS, and thus either the NGDS or the companion (or possibly both) move relative to the local mass flow. The companions are thought to be similar to orographic clouds on Earth (see chapter 12 of Houze 1993) and have been modeled as such by Stratman et al (2001). In this model, vertical flow deflections caused by the dark spot vortex result in a 1-K drop in temperature and a 3-mb drop in pressure, which is sufficient to raise the methane relative humidity from 80 to 103%, forming a companion cloud.…”

Section: Northward Companion Morphology and Structurementioning

confidence: 97%

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The Unusual Dynamics of Northern Dark Spots on Neptune

Sromovsky

Fry

Baines

2002

Icarus

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Uranus and Neptune

Sromovsky

2003

Encyclopedia of Space Science and Technology

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Uranus and Neptune, were the first planets discovered by telescopic observation. They are of Jovian Planets similar size and much more massive than Earth (by factors of 14.5 and 17) but are still far less massive than Jupiter (by factors of 22 and 18). Both have deep atmospheres dominated by hydrogen, but unlike Jupiter and Saturn, most of their mass consists of rocky and icy components, which are in fluid form due to high interior temperatures. Both have ring systems, a diverse system of satellites, unusual tilted and offset magnetic fields, and similar atmospheric circulations. Their blue colors distinguish them from the pale tans of Jupiter and Saturn. But they also differ significantly from each other; they have very different obliquities (spin axis inclinations relative to their orbital planes), vastly different internal heat fluxes, and remarkably different weather patterns. These simularities and differences are discussed in detail in this article.

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EPIC Simulations of Bright Companions to Neptune's Great Dark Spots

Cited by 48 publications

References 25 publications

Neptune’s zonal winds from near-IR Keck adaptive optics imaging in August 2001

Neptune’s zonal winds from near-IR Keck adaptive optics imaging in August 2001

The Unusual Dynamics of Northern Dark Spots on Neptune

Uranus and Neptune

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