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  • Released Thursday, April 25, 2013
  • Updated Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 12:35PM
  • ID: 11237
Movies reveal the restless nature of Jupiter's shadowy hot spots and the force behind them.

Movies reveal the restless nature of Jupiter's shadowy hot spots and the force behind them.

Jupiter's hot spots, though constantly changing, are governed by an atmospheric wave, as explained in this video.

Hot spots, which appear shadowy at visible wavelengths, are openings that reveal deeper, warmer layers of Jupiter's atmosphere.

Hot spots, which appear shadowy at visible wavelengths, are openings that reveal deeper, warmer layers of Jupiter's atmosphere.

Hot spots are formed by a Rossby wave (yellow line) traveling up and down in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Hot spots are formed by a Rossby wave (yellow line) traveling up and down in Jupiter's atmosphere.

The wave pushes cold air down, breaking up clouds to form a hot spot. Warm air gets carried up, creating big cloud plumes between hot spots.

The wave pushes cold air down, breaking up clouds to form a hot spot. Warm air gets carried up, creating big cloud plumes between hot spots.

Typically, eight to 10 hot spots, about evenly spaced, are found in a line that stretches around the planet.

Typically, eight to 10 hot spots, about evenly spaced, are found in a line that stretches around the planet.

During its flyby of Jupiter in 2000, NASA's Cassini spacecraft spotted a line of hot spots about 7 degrees north of the equator.

During its flyby of Jupiter in 2000, NASA's Cassini spacecraft spotted a line of hot spots about 7 degrees north of the equator.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover and Cassini image courtesy of NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Other images courtesy of NASA/GSFC/JPL/Space Science Institue

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