tech
Lightning on Jupiter is 100 Times Stronger Than Lightning on Earth: Juno Spacecraft Images Showed
Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system, so it's no surprise that it also has incredible storms, some of which last for centuries. Some of them also create devastating lightning strikes, which are 100 times more powerful than lightning on Earth, and possibly much stronger, a new study has shown, according to the Space Science Laboratory of the University of California, Berkeley.
TL;DR
- Jupiter's lightning strikes are estimated to be 100 times, and possibly much more, powerful than Earth's lightning.
- Data from the Juno spacecraft's microwave radiometer was crucial in measuring lightning power, unaffected by clouds.
- Jupiter's atmospheric convection, driven by hydrogen and water, differs from Earth's, requiring more energy for storms and releasing more energy upon dissipation.
- Studies of Jupiter's storms help scientists better understand Earth's own atmospheric phenomena.
- The exact mechanisms generating Jupiter's powerful lightning, especially in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere and tall storms, remain an active area of research.