Convective growth rates of equatorial features in the jovian atmosphere

Abstract

The first results of measurements of divergence and vertical velocity of cloud features in the atmosphere of Jupiter are presented from analyses of Voyager images, performed using the interactive planetary imaging processing system at University College London. Active equatorial plumes are found to have typical divergences of ∼(1−2)×10−5s−1, and vertical velocities of 20–40 cm s−1, during the observational periods examined. These plumes are considerably more active than the bright albedo features in the turbulent regions of the jovian north and south equatorial belts.