2024-07-07 04:00:11
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a massive energy imbalance on Saturn, upending our knowledge of planetary science. The discovery challenges existing climate models for the gas giants of the Solar systemoffering a new perspective on their formation and evolution.
Credit: NASA/JPL
Observed for the first time on a seasonal scale, this global energy imbalance on a gas giant intrigues researchers. According to Liming Li, professor of physics, this discovery changes our understanding of planet formation and atmospheric science. Using the data Cassini mission PhD student Xinyue Wang revealed this significant seasonal variation inenergy on Saturn. Gas giants, unlike Earth, receive not only solar energy, but also deep internal heat, influencing their thermal structure and climate. Saturn’s energy imbalance results from its eccentric orbit, varying by 20% between theaphelion and the perihelionleading to significant seasonal variations.
Earth, with its near-circular orbit, does not experience such an imbalance. Xun Jiang, a professor of atmospheric sciences, explains that Earth’s energy balance is mainly determined by the solar energy absorbed and the heat emitted, unlike Saturn where internal heat plays a key role.
Cassini data suggest that this energy imbalance contributes to the development of giant storms on Saturn, a dominant weather phenomenon on the planet. The discovery might also offer clues to understanding Earth’s climate.
The Cassini mission, a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, has explored Saturn for nearly 20 years. Professor Li, as scientist participant, monitored three instruments on board observing Saturn’s energy balance.
The UH researchers, along with scientists from various institutions, conducted the study under the leadership of Professors Li and Jiang. Their discovery prompts a reevaluation of current models of the atmospheres and climates of gas giants, highlighting the importance of this seasonal imbalance.
Finally, Li’s team is preparing to explore other gas giants, including Uranus, where a flagship mission is planned for the next decade. They predict an even greater energy imbalance on Uranus, due to its orbital eccentricity and high obliquity.
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