A Moist, Hadley Cell Model for Jupiter's Cloud Bands

Abstract

A steady symmetric flow model is used to study the hypothesis that Jupiter's banded structure represents a variable concentration of condensing constituents with latitude. The flow is consistent with the suggestion by Ingersoll and Cuzzi that Zones are warmer than Belts and that the zonal flow is geostrophic. The driving for the flow is latent heat of condensation and is localized within the bands. No equator-to-pole temperature gradient is assumed. It is found that the atmosphere is in local radiative-convective equilibrium to a first approximation. Variations in moisture content with latitude modify the adiabatic lapse rate and induce thermal winds. The requirement that the stratosphere-troposphere interface be stress free produces an Ekman layer, which through Ekman suction controls the meridional flow. The net effect of meridional motions is to advect entropy away from the cloudiest bands, and for a steady state some radiative mechanism must provide net heating at these locations. The steady state is characterized by sharp separation between bands and abrupt changes in zonal wind magnitude.