A giant thunderstorm on Saturn

G. Fischer (), W. S. Kurth, D. A. Gurnett, P. Zarka, U. A. Dyudina, A. P. Ingersoll, S. P. Ewald, C. C. Porco, A. Wesley, C. Go and M. Delcroix
Additional contact information
G. Fischer: Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstrasse 6, A-8042 Graz, Austria
W. S. Kurth: The University of Iowa, 203 Van Allen Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
D. A. Gurnett: The University of Iowa, 203 Van Allen Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
P. Zarka: Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 5 Place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
U. A. Dyudina: Geological and Planetary Sciences, 150-21, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
A. P. Ingersoll: Geological and Planetary Sciences, 150-21, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
S. P. Ewald: Geological and Planetary Sciences, 150-21, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
C. C. Porco: Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations, Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA
A. Wesley: 82 Merryville Drive, Murrumbateman, 2582 New South Wales, Australia
C. Go: University of San Carlos, Nasipit, Talamban, 6000 Cebu City, Philippines
M. Delcroix: Commission des observations planétaires, Société Astronomique de France, 2 rue de l'Ardèche, 31170 Tournefeuilee, France

Nature, 2011, vol. 475, issue 7354, 75-77

Abstract: Storm brewing on Saturn's sixth giant storm Six Great White Spot (GWS) events have been observed in the atmosphere of Saturn since 1876. These giant convective storms occur roughly once every Saturnian year (equal to 29.5 Earth years). The sixth GWS erupted in December 2010 and has been the subject of intense observation. Two papers in this issue present the details of some of these observations. Sánchez-Lavega et al. report that the storm developed at northern latitudes in the peak of a weak westward jet during early northern springtime. The storm head moved faster than the jet and triggered a disturbance that circled the planet. Numerical simulations show that Saturn's winds extend without decay deep down into the weather layer. Fischer et al. report that the storm reached a width of 10,000 kilometres within three weeks. Its lightning flash rates are an order of magnitude greater than those seen in previous storms, peaking at more than 10 flashes per second.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature10205

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