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Jump
to: Intro, Discovering
Jupiter, Significant
Dates, Page 2: Atmosphere,
Clouds, Interior,
Page 3: Energy, The
Magnetic Field.
Atmosphere:
Jupiter was being observed as early
as 1610. The first patterns that were observed were east west
parallel bands extending out across the planet. The colors range
from pale yellow and brown to blue and white. These early observers
were also able to track main features of the planet, such as a
specific cloud that would cross its face in less than five hours. By
learning more about the rotation rates of other features, we learned
that there is a strong eastward motion near the equator of Jupiter.
The king of the planets is aptly named because it not only has the
most dynamic atmospheric motion but also the most riveting cloud
patterns and storms. The dramatic appearance of Jupiter stems
partially because the composition of Jupiter's atmosphere includes
complicated molecules such as ammonia and methane, as well as simple
molecules such as helium, hydrogen, and sulfur. The composition
includes exotic molecules such as germain as well. The atmosphere of
Jupiter is only a narrow surface layer, with three cloud decks found
at different levels in the troposphere. Hazes of smog can be found
higher in the atmosphere.
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Clouds:
Observers reasoned that since Jupiter is
five times farther than Earth is from the sun and the area which
light spreads is the entire sphere surrounding the sun, the solar
energy per unit area at Jupiter is diluted by more than 25 times.
This means that the average cloud top temperature must be colder
than -150 degrees Celsius. If this is so, then what material can
form these clouds? Definitely not water in such a cold atmosphere,
because then water could not melt and the clouds could not be
constantly changing. Chemists predict that the clouds are actually
made up of white ammonia ice crystals, formed by the combination of
hydrogen and nitrogen.
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Interior:
Most of Jupiter's interior is liquid
hydrogen and helium. The central temperature is between
13,000-35,000 degrees Celsius, and the central pressure is about 100
million Earth atmospheres. Normally, hydrogen does not conduct heat
or electricity very well, which are defining characteristics for a
metal. And therefore, under normal conditions hydrogen is not a
metal. Under extreme pressures deep within Jupiter, theory suggests
that electrons are released from hydrogen molecules and are free to
move about the interior, causing hydrogen to behave as a metal. It
then can conduct both heat and electricity. The core of Jupiter is
believed to be iron silicate that is surrounded by the liquid
metallic hydrogen. The intense magnetic field of Jupiter is thought
to result from the electrical currents in this region of metallic
hydrogen. It is spinning rapidly and is thought to compose 75% of
the planet's mass. The outer layer is liquid molecular hydrogen. The
outer layer of the planet is believed to consist of water droplets,
ice crystals, Ammonium hydrosulphide crystals, ammonia crystals and
cloud tops.
High winds blow in opposite
directions adjacent to the bands on Jupiter's surface. Jupiter has a
strong magnetic that allows it to trap atomic particles and form the
Van Allen belts. These belts contain enough radiation to kill a
person. An interesting discovery about Jupiter is that it has much
less water than we had previously expected. Jupiter has less water
than even the sun.
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