Cassini imaging of Saturn: Southern hemisphere winds and vortices

High-resolution images of Saturn's southern hemisphere acquired by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem between February and October 2004 are used to create maps of cloud morphology at several wavelengths, to derive zonal winds, and to characterize the distribution, frequency, size, morphology...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal Of Geophysical Research 2006-05, Vol.111 (E5), p.n/a
Main Authors: Vasavada, A. R., Hörst, S. M., Kennedy, M. R., Ingersoll, A. P., Porco, C. C., Del Genio, A. D., West, R. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
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Summary:High-resolution images of Saturn's southern hemisphere acquired by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem between February and October 2004 are used to create maps of cloud morphology at several wavelengths, to derive zonal winds, and to characterize the distribution, frequency, size, morphology, color, behavior, and lifetime of vortices. Nonequatorial wind measurements display only minor differences from those collected since 1981 and reveal a strong, prograde flow near the pole. The region just southward of the velocity minimum at 40.7 deg S is especially active, containing numerous vortices, some generated in the proximity of convective storms. The two eastward jets nearest the pole display periodicity in their longitudinal structure, but no direct analogs to the northern hemisphere's polar hexagon or ribbon waves were observed. Characteristics of winds and vortices are compared with those of Saturn's northern hemisphere and Jupiter's atmosphere.
ISSN:0148-0227
2156-2202
DOI:10.1029/2005JE002563