2023-05-29 09:00:00
Researchers have obtained the first observations of a large cyclone above the north pole of Uranus, bringing new information about the meteorology of the ice giant.
Using the enormous satellite dishes of the aptly named Very Large Array, located in the US state of New Mexico, NASA scientists dove under the stormy clouds of Uranus’s atmosphere. Deeper than ever, they discovered that the air flowing over the North Pole seemed warmer and drier than the surrounding air, which clearly indicates the presence of a cyclone.
The authors of the study, published in Geophysical Research Lettersassert that these results correspond to what is expected of all planets with a large atmosphere: the development of swirling vortices at the poles.
“These observations tell us a lot more about the history of Uranus. It’s a much more dynamic world than we think,” said Alex Akins, lead author of the study and a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in The NASA. “It’s not just a blue ball of gas. There’s a lot going on under the hood.”
In search of Uranus’ polar cyclone
Scientists have long known about the existence of a whirlpool at the south pole of Uranus, thanks to observations from Voyager 2 which showed an area of winds at the center of the pole that seemed to spin faster than the rest of the planet. However, the probe’s infrared measurements did not reveal any temperature variations, and proof of a cyclone at the planet’s north pole has remained elusive until now due to the position of Uranus’ orbit.
As the planet takes 84 years to orbit the Sun, its poles have not been oriented towards Earth in recent decades, making observations difficult. But since 2015, scientists have had a better view, allowing them to study the polar atmosphere in more detail.
Observations made in 2021 and 2022 have identified a bright and compact spot centered on the north pole, indicating a cyclone similar to those observed on the other giant planets of the solar system, such as Saturn. This means that cyclones or anticyclones have been observed on all planets in the solar system, with the exception of Mercury, which has no substantial atmosphere.
Cyclones different from those on Earth
Like Saturn’s cyclones, first spotted by the Cassini space probe, those of Uranus are locked at the poles and do not drift. They also differ from typical Earth cyclones in this sense. that they do not form above water, since neither Saturn nor Uranus possesses them.
The researchers also believe that the contrast of the bright polar spot on Uranus may have increased since 2015, suggesting that the planet’s polar circulation may be subject to seasonal change.
“The fact that we are still discovering such simple things about how Uranus’ atmosphere works makes me want to know more about this mysterious planet,” adds Akins.
Uranus being currently the target of many researches, it is likely that we will discover much more about its unique meteorology in the years to come.
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