A storm near Jupiter's north pole was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft. The ammonia-rich clouds produced by these storms help create accurate weather models for many exoplanets. (Image credit: NASA)
Jupiter weather forecasting now includes softball-shaped hailstones known as “mushballs” that result from powerful thunderstorms raging through the planet's turbulent atmosphere, according to a new study.
The results of the study confirm that these unusual, ammonia-rich formations also serve as a source of Jupiter's scarce ammonia, a shortage of which has troubled scientists for years.
Decades ago, astronomers noticed highly turbulent cloud tops in telescopic images of the gas giant. The discovery led researchers to conclude that Jupiter's atmosphere was constantly boiling and churning, like a pot of bubbling water.
You may like
Sourse: www.livescience.com
