Transcript Atmospheric Bands

Journal 10/26/16
What does this picture
make you think / feel?
Objective
Tonight’s Homework
To learn about the largest
planet in the Solar System
Read 11.2 (pp 262 - 268)
pp 282: 6, 7, 8
Notes on Jupiter
Welcome to Jupiter!
Notes on Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest world in the Solar System.
It has a diameter about 11 times greater than
Earth and a mass greater than all the other
planets put together. It is made primarily
of hydrogen gas, but
the inner layers are
compressed so much
from gravity that they
become a liquid
metallic hydrogen.
At the center, Jupiter
has a rocky core 5 to
20 times heavier than
Earth.
Notes on Jupiter
Jupiter also rotates once every 10 hours. This
fast rotation has caused a bulge in the planet.
It’s about 10% bigger around the equator than
around the poles.
Jupiter also has an intense radiation field. This
field is so strong that it would give an astronaut
a fatal dose of radiation if they tried to pass
through it.
The field comes from a strong magnetic field,
which traps radioactive particles streaming from
the sun. The Earth also has this field, although
ours is much less intense.
Notes on Jupiter
Atmospheric Bands
As can be seen below, Jupiter has some very
complex weather patterns. The atmosphere
alternates in light Zones, where warm clouds
rise, and dark Belts, where clouds sink. The
light clouds are made of ammonia ice, while the
dark is a view to the layer below, made of
ammonium hydrosulfide.
Notes on Jupiter
The most well-known atmospheric condition on
Jupiter is the Great Red Spot, a cyclone about
twice the size of Earth. This storm has been
going as long as we’ve observed Jupiter, so at
least 300 years.
The rest of Jupiter is by no means calm, though.
Wind speeds average anywhere from 50 to 500
km/h with complex lightning storms and
chemical
interactions
added into the
mix.
Notes on Jupiter
Moons
To date, we’ve discovered 63 moons around
Jupiter. However, there are only 4 we care to
study. These are the biggest moons around
Jupiter.
Io – A hot, volcanic place
Europa – One of the most interesting moons
Ganymede – Bigger than the planet Mercury
Callisto – The moon without a core
Notes on Jupiter
The first thing to note is that the moons of the
outer solar system, while solid, are different
from things in the inner solar system.
At this distance, there wasn’t much rock when
the solar system formed. What was left over
was more a mixture of rock and ice. As such
these moons are more like gravel and ice than
solid stone. (Except Io).
Notes on Jupiter
Io
This is the closest large moon. It’s a little larger
than our moon and rotates with Jupiter like our
moon does with us. Because it is so close to
Jupiter, the moon is pulled and stretched
constantly, making the moon a geologic hotspot.
It is covered in hundreds
of volcanoes reaching as
high as 50,000 ft.
The moon has no air and
is covered in different
sulfur compounds.
Notes on Jupiter
Europa
This is currently one of the most interesting
places in the solar system. The entire moon is
covered in a thick layer of ice. However, due to
the odd networks of cracks and lines, we think
there may be an ocean of liquid water
underneath. If so, this would make Europa one
of the most likely places
in the solar system to
look for life.
The ice layer would be at
least 6 miles thick,
though, so it will be a
while before we discover
anything.
Notes on Jupiter
Ganymede and Callisto
These moons are mostly
big balls of frozen slush, but
there are a few interesting
things. Ganymede may be
a good prospect for
colonization, and Callisto has
an interesting impact crater
- Valhalla – below, that may
suggest liquid water inside.
Mars Coloring Sheet
You have the rest of class to work on your mars coloring
sheet
Exit Question
How long has the Great Red Spot existed?
a) Less than 3 years
b) 3 years
c) 30 years
d) 300 years
e) More than 300 years
f) None of the above