The Great Red Spot is like Jupiter’s birthmark; Jupiter isn’t itself without its red dot. But what exactly is the Great Red Spot?
To put it simply, the Great Red Spot is a space storm, similar to hurricanes or typhoons here on Earth. Except, the Great Red Spot is much larger; it's twice as wide as Earth. The wind speed of the Great Red Spot can reach up to 400 miles per hour, which is more than twice the speed of the strongest hurricanes recorded.
It orbits around Jupiter’s southern hemisphere and has done so for more than a century. The first observation of the Great Red Spot was in 1831, but evidence from early stargazers in the 1600s suggests it's been around for at least 400 years. Jupiter’s atmosphere consists of several “bands” that are bounded by powerful streams of wind. Thanks to these bands, the Great Red Spot has been able to survive for so long.
Similarly, the lack of a solid surface of Jupiter also contributes to the Great Red Spot’s longevity. On Earth, hurricanes and typhoons usually break apart once it makes contact with land. Since Jupiter is made of gas, there is no land for the Great Red Spot to fall apart on.
However, as of recent years, scientists have observed that the storm has been shrinking abnormally. While the Great Red Spot is currently about twice the Earth’s diameter, it was previously as big as three times the size of our planet. If the trend continues, the Great Red Spot could be on its way to disappearing.
One of the most important characteristics of the Great Red Spot is its vibrant color that stands out from the rest of Jupiter’s surface. The reddish hue may be a result of multiple factors from the atmosphere.
Based on studies, Jupiter’s upper atmosphere has ammonia, ammonium hydrosulfide, and water. It is possible that space radiation, like cosmic rays, can alter these chemicals to produce new compounds that explain the red color. But the Great Red Spot may not be as red for much longer. Along with the size decrease, scientists have noticed that the spot is fading into an orange color, which may also be caused by chemical reactions.
Whether or not the Great Red Spot will be visible within a few decades, the cosmic storm is truly one of the most iconic and fascinating extraterrestrial phenomena.
Thanks for reading!
Written by: Kaylee Barrera
Sources:
“Jupiter’s Great Red Spot: A Swirling Mystery.” NASA, www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/jupiter-s-great-red-spot-a-swirling-mystery. Accessed 16 June 2021.
Wendel, JoAnna. “Jupiter’s Great Red Spot: Our Solar System’s Most Famous Storm.” Space.Com, 19 Oct. 2019, www.space.com/jupiter-great-red-spot.html.
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