IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v10y2019i1d10.1038_s41467-018-07919-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Planetary-scale streak structure reproduced in high-resolution simulations of the Venus atmosphere with a low-stability layer

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroki Kashimura

    (Kobe University
    Kobe University)

  • Norihiko Sugimoto

    (Keio University)

  • Masahiro Takagi

    (Kyoto Sangyo University)

  • Yoshihisa Matsuda

    (Tokyo Gakugei University)

  • Wataru Ohfuchi

    (Kobe University
    Kobe University)

  • Takeshi Enomoto

    (Kyoto University
    Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)

  • Kensuke Nakajima

    (Kyushu University)

  • Masaki Ishiwatari

    (Hokkaido University)

  • Takao M. Sato

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Hokkaido Information University)

  • George L. Hashimoto

    (Okayama University)

  • Takehiko Satoh

    (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    SOKENDAI)

  • Yoshiyuki O. Takahashi

    (Kobe University
    Kobe University)

  • Yoshi-Yuki Hayashi

    (Kobe University
    Kobe University)

Abstract

Cloud patterns are important clues for revealing the atmospheric circulation of Venus. Recently, a planetary-scale streak structure has been discovered in middle- and lower-cloud images of Venus’ night-side taken by IR2, the 2-μm camera, on board the Akatsuki orbiter. However, its formation mechanism has not been investigated. Here we succeed, for the first time, in reproducing the patterns of the observed streak structure, as regions of strong downward flows that develop in high-resolution global simulations of the Venus atmosphere. The streaks are formed in both hemispheres with equatorial symmetry, which is caused by equatorial Rossby-like and Kelvin-like waves with zonal wavenumber one. The low-stability layer that has been suggested by past observations is essential for reproducing the streak structure. The streaks of downward flow result from the interaction of the meridionally tilted phase lines of the Rossby-like waves and the characteristics of baroclinic instability produced around the low-stability layer.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroki Kashimura & Norihiko Sugimoto & Masahiro Takagi & Yoshihisa Matsuda & Wataru Ohfuchi & Takeshi Enomoto & Kensuke Nakajima & Masaki Ishiwatari & Takao M. Sato & George L. Hashimoto & Takehiko Sa, 2019. "Planetary-scale streak structure reproduced in high-resolution simulations of the Venus atmosphere with a low-stability layer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07919-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07919-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-07919-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-018-07919-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07919-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.