Understanding Jupiter’s Dynamic Atmosphere with Hubble and Webb

If there is one thing Jupiter is famous for, it’s the intense, giant storms that rage on in its atmosphere. These turbulent conditions produce beautiful colored cloud layers and can reveal how weather patterns on the gas giant function. Recently, new images and data produced by the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope have found more features in Jupiter’s atmosphere, including a high-speed jet stream sitting above Jupiter’s main cloud decks.

Infrared image of Jupiter taken by the James Webb Space Telescope in July 2022. The bright white spots and streaks are most likely high altitude clouds that have condensed over convective storms. Darker regions have very little cloud cover compared to the brighter regions. Auroras are also visible in this image as red patches at the north and south poles. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Ricardo Hueso (UPV), Imke de Pater (UC Berkeley), Thierry Fouchet (Observatory of Paris), Leigh Fletcher (University of Leicester), Michael H. Wong (UC Berkeley), Joseph DePasquale (STScI).

Like an Onion: Jupiter’s Atmospheric Layers

Just like our own planet, Jupiter has a dynamic atmosphere capable of creating intense storms and weather patterns. Additionally, Jupiter’s atmosphere is like Earth’s because it has layers. Being able to study these different layers separately is important for understanding extreme Jupiter weather; how it works and what causes it. Astronomers have already used multiple observatories to peer into different portions of the gas giant’s atmosphere, including the Hubble Space Telescope, Juno, and Gemini.

Both Juno and Gemini have been able to peer deeper into Jupiter’s convective storm towers of clouds. This has allowed astronomers to detect lighting deep into the clouds using Juno’s radio wave capabilities. Research has also been able to detect warm and cold fronts…