File:NASA’s Webb Discovers New Feature in Jupiter’s Atmosphere (53270123023).jpg

Jupiter’s fly like a jet stream high above the whole scene ♪

Webb has discovered a 3000-mi (4800-km) wide jet stream over Jupiter’s equator, above the main cloud decks. This newly discovered Jovian jet stream travels at 320 miles per hour, 2 times the winds of a Category 5 hurricane on Earth! It’s located around 25 miles (40 kilometers) in altitude, in Jupiter’s lower stratosphere. Other missions have looked at Jupiter’s atmosphere and detected the lower, deeper layers, where there are gigantic storms and ammonia ice clouds. Webb’s sensitive near-infrared eye reveals new detail in the higher-altitude layers, 15-30 mi (25-50 km) above the cloud tops.

Combining recent Hubble and Webb observations allows scientists to measure how fast Jupiter’s winds change with altitude. The two telescopes’ different wavelengths also revealed the 3D structure of storm clouds on Jupiter, plus how rapidly storms develop.

Jupiter has a complex, repeating pattern of winds and temperatures in its stratosphere. Scientists are excited to see how this jet stream will vary in speed and altitude over the next few years, and if it may be connected to Jupiter’s oscillating stratospheric patterns. More on Webb's unique ability to track interactions in Jupiter's layered atmosphere: <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-discovers-new-feature-in-jupiters-atmosphere/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-discovers-new-featu...</a>

Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, R. Hueso (University of the Basque Country), I. de Pater (University of California, Berkeley), T. Fouchet (Observatory of Paris), L. Fletcher (University of Leicester), M. Wong (University of California, Berkeley), J. DePasquale (STScI)