2000/03/27 by F. Bouchet, Freddy Bouchet, Bouchet, F. +3
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech) #cond-mat.stat-mech #physics.ao-ph #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0003079
56 pages, 19 figures
arxiv created 2000/03/27 · openalex publication_date 2000/03/27 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We explain the emergence and robustness of intense jets in highly turbulent planetary atmospheres, like on Jupiter, by a general approach of statistical mechanics of potential vorticity patches. The idea is that potential vorticity mixing leads to the formation of a steady organized coarse grained flow, corresponding to the statistical equilibrium state. Our starting point is the quasi-geostrophic 1-1/2 layer model, and we consider the relevant limit of a small Rossby radius of deformation. Then narrow jets are obtained, scaling like the Rossby radius of deformation. These jets can be either zonal, or closed into a ring bounding a vortex. Taking into account the effect of the beta effect and a sublayer deep shear flow, we predict an organization of the turbulent atmospheric layer into an oval-shaped vortex amidst a background shear. Such an isolated vortex is centered over an extremum of the equivalent topography (determined by the deep shear flow and beta-effect). This prediction is in agreement with analysis of wind data in major Jovian vortices (Great Red Spot and Oval BC).