论文标题
深旋转对流会在土星上产生极地六边形
Deep rotating convection generates the polar hexagon on Saturn
论文作者
论文摘要
许多土地和空间的观察结果表明，土星在其北极附近具有持续的六边形流动模式。尽管观察到比比皆是，但其形成背后的物理学仍然不确定。尽管几种现象学模型已经能够重现这一特征，但对于如何在高度湍流的土星大气中形成这种大规模多边形射流的自洽模型。在这里，我们提出了一个3D完全非线性的厌氧模拟，对气体巨型行星的外层深度热对流进行了自发产生巨大的极性气旋，凶猛的交替层面流和具有多边形模式的高纬度向东。对模拟的分析表明，以巨型涡流形式进行自组织的湍流夹在向东的射流中，形成多边形形状。我们认为，类似的机制是造成激动人心的六角形流动模式的原因。
Numerous land and space-based observations have established that Saturn has a persistent hexagonal flow pattern near its north pole. While observations abound, the physics behind its formation is still uncertain. Although several phenomenological models have been able to reproduce this feature, a self-consistent model for how such a large-scale polygonal jet forms in the highly turbulent atmosphere of Saturn is lacking. Here we present a 3D fully-nonlinear anelastic simulation of deep thermal convection in the outer layers of gas giant planets which spontaneously generates giant polar cyclones, fierce alternating zonal flows, and a high latitude eastward jet with a polygonal pattern. The analysis of the simulation suggests that self-organized turbulence in the form of giant vortices pinches the eastward jet, forming polygonal shapes. We argue that a similar mechanism is responsible for exciting Saturn's hexagonal flow pattern.
