The Enigma of Saturn's North-Polar Hexagon

2017/10/30 by Gerald E. Marsh, Marsh, Gerald E.
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1711.00338

openalex publication_date 2017/10/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

It has been suggested that the north-polar hexagon found on Saturn is an unusual Rossby wave. If this is to be the case, one must not only explain how a Rossby wave can be hexagonal in shape, albeit with curved corners, but also why it is hexagonal rather than in the form of some other polygon. It is likely that a spectrum of Rossby waves with different amplitudes and wavelengths resulting from the velocity profile of the hexagonal jet is responsible for its shape.

Citations

• The Zakharov-Kuznetsov Equation as a Two-Dimensional Model for Nonlinear Rossby Waves

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• Kronoseismology VI: Reading the recent history of Saturn's gravity field in its rings
• The Two-component Model of the 'spokes' in Saturn's Rings
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• Saturns Rings - Azimuthal Variations, Phase Curves, And Radial Profiles In 4 Colors