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From the European Space Agency:
Jupiter’s trademark Great Red Spot — a swirling storm feature larger than Earth — is shrinking. This downsizing, which is changing the shape of the spot from an oval into a circle, has been known about since the 1930s, but now these striking new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope images capture the spot at a smaller size than ever before.
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Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a churning anticyclonic storm [1]. It shows up in images of the giant planet as a conspicuous deep red eye embedded in swirling layers of pale yellow, orange and white. Winds inside this Jovian storm rage at immense speeds, reaching several hundreds of kilometres per hour.
Historic observations as far back as the late 1800s [2] gauged this turbulent spot to span about 41 000 kilometres at its widest point — wide enough to fit three Earths comfortably side by side. In 1979 and 1980 the NASA Voyager fly-bys measured the spot at a shrunken 23 335 kilometres across. Now, Hubble has spied this feature to be smaller than ever before.
“Recent Hubble Space Telescope observations confirm that the spot is now just under 16 500 kilometres across, the smallest diameter we’ve ever measured,” said Amy Simon of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, USA.
Amateur observations starting in 2012 revealed a noticeable increase in the spot’s shrinkage rate. The spot’s “waistline” is getting smaller by just under 1000 kilometres per year. The cause of this shrinkage is not yet known.
“In our new observations it is apparent that very small eddies are feeding into the storm,” said Simon. “We hypothesised that these may be responsible for the accelerated change by altering the internal dynamics of the Great Red Spot.”
Simon’s team plan to study the motions of these eddies, and also the internal dynamics of the spot, to determine how the stormy vortex is fed with or sapped of momentum.
This full-disc image of Jupiter was taken on 21 April 2014 with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).
Notes
[1] The Great Red Spot is a high-pressure anticyclone. It rotates in an anti-clockwise direction in Jupiter’s southern hemisphere.
[2] The Great Red Spot itself may have been mentioned in writings before the late 1800s. There are references to Jupiter’s “permanent spot” dating back as far as the late 1600s, although some astronomers disagree that the permanent spot mentioned is the Great Red Spot.
I just modeled it. My model projects Jupiter will be red spot free by the end of this century.
Don’t tell the UN
Is it appropriate to say that the Great Red Spot is part of Jupiter’s atmosphere? Being a long term part of the pattern does that make it part of the Planet’s climate? And the climate is changing? Because only CO2 can change a planet’s climate [“climate scientists” say so], there must be many millions of SUVs and/or other carbon-emitters up there. Who invented the SUV? Not me. Don’t blame me.
Earth’s CO2 is re-radiating energy to space at different wavelengths than what the sun emitted causing extreme weather events on Jupiter. I have a model that proves it.
HA There is where the heat is hiding but believe me it will come back and KILL US ALLL AAAAAAH
LOL ;>)
The duration time of a vortex and its size are directly related as one considers such for transient dust devils, tornadoes, hurricanes, Jupiter’s eye, spiral galaxies. If it were known when Jupiter’s eye first formed, its duration time could be approximated.
Not as interesting I guess, but in case anyone missed it the top winds on Venus mysteriously sped up 33% over 6 Earth years.
http://www.space.com/21612-venus-winds-hurricane-speeds.html
Oops sorry I did model it and I will give you my crayola when I have the paper tubes refilled HONEST I WILL SHUT UP ;>)
Residents of Jupiter will not know what anticyclones are!!!
noaaprogrammer says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:27 pm
The duration time of a vortex and its size are directly related as one considers such for transient dust devils, tornadoes, hurricanes, Jupiter’s eye, spiral galaxies. If it were known when Jupiter’s eye first formed, its duration time could be approximated.
HUM dust on a gas giant and who was that again that watched it form GEE take done of stupied is easy !~ ;>)
LOL that post sucked sorry but dust devils and then to a galaxies tornadoes hurricanes the mind just boggles
;>)
TBraunlich says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:08 pm
I just modeled it. My model projects Jupiter will be red spot free by the end of this century.
I think your projection is spot on.
NASA? Isn’t that some kind of weather service? One that hasn’t been right in 17 years?
Pamela Gray says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Residents of Jupiter will not know what anticyclones are!!!
Quick fast spend it all what wait hold on a sec no really don’t tell me to shut-up jail? I believe I believe I believe ;>(
It’s the sun.
TBraunlich says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:08 pm
If we don’t implement a Carbon Tax!
I’m not completely sure, but either we need a special #hashtag or a “Carbon Tax” in order to save the Great Red Spot.
#SaveGreatRedSpot
Gene Schmick says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:39 pm
NASA? Isn’t that some kind of weather service? One that hasn’t been right in 17 years?
And now under Puten’s thumb guess who get’s the ISS not the gav and them that played the cAGW bullshit card and spent the money ;>(
You guys do know that this thread went away fast and I find it relaxing and fun thank’s guy’s ;>)
sideways $hit poop not away ;>)
It the evil oil companies putting the waste products from refineries on Jupiter, unbeknownst to us they have already produced a star trek transporter and are transporting pollution to Jupiter. It amusing how low a oil executive will stoop. After all they have bough up all the patents for 100 mile per gallon carburetors.
I traced Jupiters Red spot back through history.
President Ronald Reagan’s spirit is at work… the RED spot destroyer 🙂
disclosure: he is my HERO …. half of my life under the commies 🙁
Mark Luhman says:
May 16, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Didn’t you know Shush this is where we hide or used frac fluids don’t tell John Gav Mike James Dave Bill Al Barak I could go on but you know SHUT UP someone with science will find out we have been doing this forr about 57 years ! ;>)
// Sarcasm //
Yes, our highly accurate computer model shows a strong connection between CO2 on Earth and the disappointing spot on Jupiter:
10 PRINT “Is Earth’s increasing CO2 responsible for the disappointing spot on Jupiter?”
20 INPUT “Press ENTER: “, A$
30 PRINT “Our computer model say it is, so it MUST be true !!!”
40 END
stupid smart phone speeling LOL ;>)
Bob Diaz says:
May 16, 2014 at 9:15 pm
+1000000000000000000000000000000 ;>)
OOPs – cost you are now – 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ‘>(
IN MBH98 Herr Mann shows the spot was much smaller during the MWP.
Start thinking electromagnetic.
As an astronomical point in time, a giant red spot that periodically appears and disappears and is observed and noted by humans is gold.
Is there not a young spot on the other side forming thought I read that some where ? ;>)
Yup here it is
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/02mar_redjr.html
As it is a gas planet who cares. There is nothing we humans can do to save the red spot (LOL) but any monetary fund will be welcomed (sarc)
lorne50 says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:36 pm
LOL that post sucked sorry but dust devils and then to a galaxies tornadoes hurricanes the mind just boggles
============================================================================
So you jump from dust devils, galaxies, tornadoes and hurricanes to dice/word games?
The whole idea of a cyclonic storm larger than the Earth blows my mind.
OK. We need the raw data on Red Spot Size vs. time so we can correlate it to the dangerous increase in Man-Made CO2. After all, there is probably and intriguing correlation…coincidence? I think not!
http://www.tylervigen.com/view_correlation.php?id=3063
I and AL will help you, Dave and Gav are working on it once we get Lew and Cook on board with Chris and Kieth , Mike will stop the fools that don’t see the way to the glory of GEIA you get the jest /SARC/ ffun to write though ;>)
MattS says:
May 16, 2014 at 9:51 pm
lorne50 says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:36 pm
LOL that post sucked sorry but dust devils and then to a galaxies tornadoes hurricanes the mind just boggles
============================================================================
So you jump from dust devils, galaxies, tornadoes and hurricanes to dice/word games?
The whole idea of a cyclonic storm larger than the Earth blows my mind.
GALAXIES really you would us that in a dust devil per say ??? ;>)
And stupid phone it’s use and yes you did do that ;>)
MattS says:
May 16, 2014 at 9:51 pm
lorne50 says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:36 pm
If you where my Roughneck for dumbass thinking like that you would be sorting out the bolt bins then scrubbing ;>)
TobiasN says:
May 16, 2014 at 8:27 pm
“Not as interesting I guess, but in case anyone missed it the top winds on Venus mysteriously sped up 33% over 6 Earth years.”
http://www.space.com/21612-venus-winds-hurricane-speeds.html
It’s gotta be that damned CO2. Is there nothing it can’t do?
deebodk says:
May 16, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Mars warmed up to will find the link but sure you have that already ;>)
Yaa now I remember where I read that :.)
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/10/global-warming-on-mars/
Sorry for wrecking this thread but gas gets hot under presser and cold losing the stored energy water gets cold way the ffing deep past the sun ??? Has a model ever told us what would happen on Venus or Mars ?? ;>)
“It’s worse than we thought” (TM)
Anthony,
I have just found a reference linking the red spots on Jupiter to the climate on Earth and all other planets, the common factor being the Sun.
I followed a link on Junkscience.com to Tweaktown’s coverage of Ben Davidson’s video presentation on YouTube. http://www.tweaktown.com/news/37703/global-warming-one-of-the-biggest-scams-in-the-history-of-humanity/index.html
Davidson claims that, If the Sun has a role in the Earth’s climate, then changes should be seen in the “climates” of all the planets. He specifically mentions changes in Jupiter’s climate and suggests that humans are not the cause of climate change on any other planet and this fact should lead us to question whether or not humans are responsible for climate change on Earth. ..
Well if there is a Mother Earth Gaia. Then there probably is something of the same on the Sun and the rest of the planets. Mother Jupiter red herring is trying to communicate with the other planets and the sun? Maybe CAGW is hurting her?
We all know that global warming, caused by CO2, causes everything bad on Earth, but it is amazing the extent of this effect.
What do the holy models say?
Well, this is one decline they can’t hide. Heh.
Don’t worry the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe are blessed with savior The Anointed One Obama.
The Jovians are celebrating because, “This was the moment when the rise of the ammonia-methane oceans began to slow and the planet began to heal, and that damn red spot super-mega-mega-mega typhoon finally began to disappear.”
// OK, really bad sarc, but still sarc//
Here’s my scientific paper on the subject:
Abstract: Man-made C02 warms the Earth!!! We’re all gonna die!! DO SOMETHING !!
Article: Oh, and Jupiter’s spot is shrinking. (Insert highly innovative BS here)
Reblogged this on Tallbloke's Talkshop.
Well, I am going to remain a red spot skeptic and denier until I see the proxy tree ring data.
Guys are desperately trying to understand the longevity of the Great Red Spot.
Unfortunately their effort is completely misguided, for it does not clarify anything but puts up the (false) claim of some big inconsistency, where no consistency was to be expected in the first place.
I am starting an interplanetary environmental group called Redpiece, with the initial goal of saving the fast-disappearing red spots which have become endangered, and may soon become extinct if we don’t act now. Membership is easy, and there will be many different membership levels, starting from $50. Who’s with me?
The variability of Jupiter’s Red Spot indicates that a planet’s climate can vary significantly all on its own, without any change in “forcings.” This is a feature that can happen on other climates too, such as Mars, with its variably sized polar caps. (IIRC. there are variations on other planets and their moons too.) Why, then, should Earth be an exception?
In a moment of sheer speculation, I have wondered if decreased solar output has something to with it.
to determine how the stormy vortex is fed with or sapped of momentum.
====
uh no…when it gets smaller it gets more defined and stronger
“The cause of this shrinkage is not yet known.”
I’ll bet he’s been in the pool.
Don’t be so silly. It’s a natural phenomenon. In fact it’s the only natural phenomenon in the whole universe that’s not caused by excess CO2.
“Somehow, I’m sure somebody will figure out a way to blame ‘climate change’ for this”
Evidentially Anthony, I have the same affliction you have because I thought that exact thing when I saw the article in the local paper.
Obama: “Climate change is a fact and it’s happening now! You can see it clearly as Jupiter’s great red spot is shrinking. We must act now or our grandchildren will not be able to enjoy this wonderful sight.”
JimG132 says:
May 17, 2014 at 5:52 am
“The cause of this shrinkage is not yet known.”
I’ll bet he’s been in the pool.
Uh, does being in the pool cause shrinkage to that which is between one’s ears?
🙂
The commentators on CBC knew what to blame it on. See the comments where the skeptics have had great fun blaming it on CC and pokeing the alarmists.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/jupiter-s-giant-red-spot-could-be-gone-in-17-years-scientist-says-1.2645013
The spot hasn’t changed. The spot only APPEARS smaller because of the reverse lensing effect RESULTING from increased CO2 in Earths atmosphere.
/Lol
Save Our Spot
Perhaps this may help us get a better GRIP on some of the processes that may be involved with the Red spot?
And the polar “ice caps” on Mars are
(1) still shrinking,
(2) steady – no longer shrinking?
(3) expanding ?
Funny, wasn’t it Charon – waaaay out there orbiting Pluto – that was expanding (getting more visible) at the same time that Mars was losing its frozen ice caps and Jupiter was losing its Red Spot ?
Ah so. I guess that’s what’s called top-down thinking, or is it bass ackward?. ‘No chance, I guess, that Jupiter’s internal dynamics might have something to do with the appearance of the top of Jupiter’s atmosphere.
Well, with our keen understanding of everything there is to know about Earth’s atmosphere, and our ability to make not only long-range forecasts far into the future, but also to account for both mild and dramatic fluctuations in Earth’s climate history, deciphering Jupiter’s many spots and rotating bands should be duck soup for these chaps, and I suppose we should all count our blessings that the climate science for Jupiter will soon be settled too.
@Alan Poirier
>IN MBH98 Herr Mann shows the spot was much smaller during the MWP.
Alan I have spotted a problem with this claim – the logic is circular. Tree rings are oval, The Red Spot is oval (well, it was…). Herr Mann said (1998) there was no MWP. Later (2008) he said there was, but it wasn’t global. The Red Spot isn’t global either. See the connection? No?
The tree rings are oval; the Red Spot was oval; there was no MWP. Now, there was an MWP, but not a global one; the Red Spot is round and smaller; now, tree rings are pear-shaped. See?
Circular logic: works every time.
It’s all our fault.
The Jupitertarians must have finally closed their last coal-fired power plant.
That’s why the spot is changing.
(Oh…but wait a minute….)
Other planets & Pluto still warming as of 2007. Maybe the “Pause” (better known as Plateau) has hit them by now, too, though.
http://www.dailytech.com/Global+Warming+on+Mars++and+Jupiter+Pluto+Neptune/article6544.htm
But in that case how to explain the amazing shrinking Great Red Spot?
Spot on.
See Spot shrink.
I can see/hear it now….new children’s cartoon…
dah dah dah dah-de-dah dah dah dah-di-dah-duh,
dah dah duh dah-de-dah-di-dah-duh-uh-uh …..woof
Where’s spot?
……
Then, Spot goes to his Grandparents (assuming there was a progenitor to the great red spot),
Spot goes to school (to learn how to be a proper anticyclone) (and not go against the wind)
Spot goes to the circus (already happened, from three rings to one….
Possibilities are endless 🙂
…..
Aren’t there other planets with spots too (Uranus, Neptune)? Anyone keeping track on size, behaviour, etc., of said spots? Doc Brown (“Great Spot”!!! )
The Jovians built too many wind turbines and are sucking all the energy out of their atmosphere.
It’s cold, I was in the pool! (Seinfeld reference)
#Bring back Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Just doing my part!
I blamed Earth’s Global Warmiing for the decline of Jupiter’s Red Spot at Yahoo News’s article. /sarc, of course
Climate change on the brain I suppose.
Here in Texas they blame Obama for it. And everything else
Ok, we’re hearing some solar system problems here:
1). The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is shrinking
2). The winds on Venus are speeding up
3). Mar’s polar ice caps are shrinking
4). The sun has been decreasing its amount of sunspots
And what is happening here? We’re pumping trillions of tons of CO2 into our atmosphere. What does our atmosphere have contact with? Space!
Why isn’t our CO2 levels increasing commensurate with the amount of CO2 we’re dumping into our atmosphere? Because some of it is leaking out into our solar system!
What happens when you put CO2 on fire? It puts it out of course. That would explain the lack of sun spots on the Sun.
As we all know, warming from CO2 causes increased storms, and shrinking icecaps, which explains Venus’s wind and Mars’ ice caps.
As for Jupiter, we know that the warming from CO2 causes smaller, more intense, and more frequent storms, which is why the Great Red Spot is waning, and will become the many Medium Red Cyclones.