Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 12: Problem 9

What are the belts and zones in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn? Is the Great Red Spot more like a belt or a zone? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Belts and zones are alternating stripes of color visible in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, with zones being lighter, higher regions of greater convection, and belts being darker, lower regions of lesser convection. The Great Red Spot of Jupiter, a massive storm system, is more similar to a belt due to its warmer, deeper cloud levels and similarity to darker belts on both planets.

Step by step solution

01

Define Belts and Zones

Belts and zones are terms used to describe the alternating stripes of color in the atmospheres of gas giant planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. Zones are lighter stripes, usually indicating regions with higher clouds or more upward convection. Belts are darker stripes, generally representing regions of lower altitude clouds or lesser convection.
02

Describe the Atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn both have banded appearances due to their belts and zones. Jupiter's zones are lighter and made up of ammonia ice, while the belts are darker and warmer with complex cloud chemistry. Saturn's atmosphere is similar, though less distinctly banded, with zones of lighter color and belts of darker color due to differing speeds and elevations of atmospheric winds.
03

Classify the Great Red Spot

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere, essentially a giant storm system. It is more like a belt than a zone as it resembles a concentrated area of lesser convection and deeper, warmer cloud levels, akin to the darker, warmer belts on Jupiter and Saturn.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Compare and contrast the source of energy for motions in the Earth's atmosphere with the energy source for motions in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn.

Suppose you were asked to design a mission to Jupiter involving an unmanned airplanelike vehicle that would spend many days (months?) flying through the Jovian clouds. What observations, measurements, and analyses should this aircraft be prepared to make? What dangers might the aircraft encounter, and what design problems would you have to overcome?

What is liquid metallic hydrogen? What is its significance for Jupiter?

Is the chemical composition of Jupiter as a whole the same as that of its atmosphere? Explain any differences.

What is the relationship between Saturn's satellite Mimas and the Cassini division?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Particle Model of Matter

Read Explanation

Energy Physics

Read Explanation

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Read Explanation

Magnetism

Read Explanation

Physics of Motion

Read Explanation

Fluids

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free