Ice storm phenomena on Jupiter reveal atmospheric secrets
Scientists have discovered that during storms on Jupiter, ice balls containing ammonia and water fall. This unusual phenomenon provides new insights into the uneven distribution of this compound on the planet's surface.
During storms on Jupiter, an extraordinary phenomenon occurs. Strong gusts of wind and rain lead to the formation of ice balls combined with ammonia in the planet's atmosphere. These formations, resembling the consistency of wet snow, result from complex atmospheric processes. According to Science Alert, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, led by Chris Moeckel, studied this phenomenon for three years. While the researchers were initially skeptical of the theory, the research confirmed the existence of this surprising process.
How do these unusual ice balls form?
The hypothesis regarding the formation of water-ammonia balls emerged in 2020 when researchers analyzed data from the Juno probe. During storms, water is hurled high above the water clouds, where it encounters ammonia vapour. In extremely low temperatures, water and ammonia freeze together, forming hail. Heidi Becker from NASA explains that ammonia acts like antifreeze, lowering the melting point of ice.
Jupiter's storms are surprising
Jupiter's atmosphere is characterized by storms that penetrate deep into the atmosphere. While most weather phenomena are shallow, some, like cyclones or thunderstorms, extend deep into the troposphere. It is in these storms that the ice balls, transporting ammonia deep into the planet, form.
Previously, scientists did not know what removed ammonia from the atmosphere, but this phenomenon explains why ammonia is unevenly distributed in Jupiter's atmosphere. Ice balls with ammonia and water fall, carrying ammonia into the planet's interior and transporting it to the surface during violent storms.
Possibility of occurrence on other planets
The mechanism of mushball formation may not be unique to Jupiter. Scientists suggest that similar processes might occur on other gas giants in our Solar System and beyond. Future observations may confirm these assumptions.
