Equatorial oscillation and planetary wave activity in Saturn's stratosphere through the Cassini epoch
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Abstract Thermal infrared spectra acquired by Cassini/Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) in limb‐viewing geometry in 2015 are used to derive 2‐D latitude‐pressure temperature and thermal wind maps. These maps are used to study the vertical structure and evolution of Saturn's equatorial oscillation (SEO), a dynamical phenomenon presenting similarities with the Earth's quasi‐biennal oscillation (QBO) and semi‐annual oscillation (SAO). We report that a new local wind maximum has appeared in 2015 in the upper stratosphere and derive the descent rates of other wind extrema through time. The phase of the oscillation observed in 2015, as compared to 2005 and 2010, remains consistent with a ∼15 year period. The SEO does not propagate downward at a regular rate but exhibits faster descent rate in the upper stratosphere, combined with a greater vertical wind shear, compared to the lower stratosphere. Within the framework of a QBO‐type oscillation, we estimate the absorbed wave momentum flux in the stratosphere to be on the order of ∼7 × 10−6 N m−2. On Earth, interactions between vertically propagating waves (both planetary and mesoscale) and the mean zonal flow drive the QBO and SAO. To broaden our knowledge on waves potentially driving Saturn's equatorial oscillation, we searched for thermal signatures of planetary waves in the tropical stratosphere using CIRS nadir spectra. Temperature anomalies of amplitude 1–4 K and zonal wave numbers 1 to 9 are frequently observed, and an equatorial Rossby (n = 1) wave of zonal wave number 3 is tentatively identified in November 2009.
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The narrow and intense jet in the upper hazes and its temporal variations could be related to the equatorial thermal oscillations.
“the narrow and intense jet in the upper hazes and its temporal variations could be related to the equatorial thermal oscillations (Fouchet et al., 2008; Orton et al., 2008; Guerlet et al., 2018).”
From Saturn atmospheric dynamics one year after Cassini: Long-lived features and time variations in the drift of the Hexagon (2020) · cites this paper as Guerlet et al., 2018
The Equatorial Zone has quasi-periodic thermal oscillations in the stratosphere that occur both in altitude and in time.
“as well as quasi-periodic thermal oscillations in the stratosphere that occur both in altitude and in time (Fouchet et al., 2008; Orton et al., 2008; Guerlet et al., 2018).”
From Saturn atmospheric dynamics one year after Cassini: Long-lived features and time variations in the drift of the Hexagon (2020) · cites this paper as Guerlet et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Guerlet, S., Fouchet, T., Spiga, A., Flasar, F. M., Fletcher, L. N., Hesman, B. E., & Gorius, N.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Space Telescope Science Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Guerlet, S.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2018-01
- Volume
- 123
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 246-261
- ISSN
- 2169-9097 (ISSN-L)
- 2169-9100
- OpenAlex
- W2782622064
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Planets (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- H2020 European Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Keywords
- Saturn, Rossby waves, stratosphere, quasi-biennial oscillation, semiannual oscillation, thermal wind, wave momentum flux, zonal wind shear, descent rate, thermal infrared spectra
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