The magnetic field of Jupiter changes



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First, NASA's Juno spacecraft researchers observed secular (long-term) changes in the Earth's internal magnetic field. According to the results of the measurements, the changes in Jupiter's magnetic field are probably caused by extremely windy atmospheric winds. This discovery not only allows us to better understand the internal structure of the gas giant, such as atmospheric dynamics, but also to modify the magnetic field of the Earth. The results of the research group were published on May 20th. nature published in a scientific journal.

"The observation of age-old changes has been part of the planetologists' desires for decades," said Scott Bolton, senior researcher at Juno. "The discovery could only come from the incredibly accurate scientific equipment and specialty of his career, as the probe is very close to Jupiter as it pbades from the Arctic to the US. Arctic."

Close measurements are needed to characterize the magnetic field of a planet. Juno researchers compared NASA's previous mission data (Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and Ulysses) with a new Jupiter magnetic field model (JRM09). This new model is based on magnetic measurements from Juno's first 8 jupiter approaches.

Unprecedented recording of Jupiter's large red patch and turbulent southern hemisphere, thanks to NASA's Juno spacecraft. Three approaches were needed to capture the recording in five days in total. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Kevin M. Gill)

Looking at the results, the researchers found that, from Pioneer's spacecraft measurements to Juno's latest data, Jupiter's magnetic space was tiny but characteristic.

"Finding such a slight difference in something as big as Jupiter's magnetic space was not an easy task," said Kimee Moore, a member of the research team at Jupiter. Juno. "We have more than four decades of measurement data to confirm that Jupiter's magnetic field changes over time."

After Juno's research team proved that the phenomenon of secular change was real, its causes were sought after. The effect of Jupiter's atmospheric (or zonal) winds best explains the change in space. These winds blow from the surface of the planet to a depth of more than 3,000 km. The interior of the giant pbades through the gases and transforms a highly conductive liquid metal. These winds are thought to shear the magnetic field, stretching and enveloping the power lines around the planet.

The animation of the magnetic field of Jupiter is a frozen image. It is here that the great blue dot, the knot of the magnetic line of force invisible to the human eye, is located near the equator of the planet. The gray lines represent the magnetic lines and the depth of the colors represents the strength of the magnetic field. The dark red and dark blue areas are strongly positive or strongly negative. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / Harvard / Moore et al.)

There is no greater secular change than the Great Blue Spot on the planet, an intense magnetic line of force located near the equator of Jupiter.

"It's amazing that only one narrow magnetic"hotspot"The Big Blue Spot may be responsible for the secular changes in Jupiter's magnetic field, but the numbers show it," Moore said. Based on this new discovery, researchers expect new planetary approaches to explore Jupiter's global magnetic changes. This new knowledge may also be of interest to investigators of the Earth's magnetic field, because even our own planet has many unresolved mysteries.

Source: NASA JPL

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