| Themes > Science > Astronomy > The Solar System > The Solar System > The Planet Saturn > The Surface and Interior |
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There are large anticyclonic cells on the surface, apparently driven by the planet's internal heat source, but none are as large as the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, and they are not as abundant as on Jupiter. The image adjacent left shows a red anticyclonic disturbance about the diameter of the Earth.
High-Velocity WindsThere are extremely high velocity winds in the atmosphere of Saturn. Unlike the case for Jupiter, the variations in wind speeds are not strongly correlated with the positions of the belts and bands. The wind speeds in the atmosphere of Saturn have been measured to be as high as 1800 km/hr, which is about 4 times the highest speeds in the atmosphere of Jupiter.The Interior of SaturnLike Jupiter, Saturn is largely liquid. The slightly higher concentration of helium relative to hydrogen in the atmosphere is thought to be be due to the colder temperature of Saturn. Under these colder conditions, liquid helium does not dissolve in liquid hydrogen and drops of helium sink to the center, depleting the outer regions in helium. Speculation on Saturn's internal heat source is similar to that for Jupiter.The magnetic field of Saturn is similar to that of Jupiter, but weaker. Electrical currents in liquid metallic hydrogen deep in the interior are assumed to be the cause of the magnetic field. Unlike the case for Jupiter, the magnetic field traps charged particles in "Van Allen belts" rather than in sheets, and there appear to be fewer trapped charged particles than is the case for Jupiter. |
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