Why Is There a Hexagon Weather Formation on Saturn?

For centuries scientists have been dazzled by the mysteries of outer space. Even today when research labs are armed with cutting edge technologies and next generation equipment, the universe’s secrets still remain largely under wraps. However every now and then a new development comes to light that has scientists patting themselves on the back. This month, the latest discovery relates to the enigmatic hexagon shaped weather formations that occur at Saturn’s North Pole.

Scientists have been studying the phenomenon for years and now, they claim that they’ve come up with an answer. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and describe the existence of an eastward jet of wind that circles the gas giant.

Computers and the cosmos

Using ultra-sophisticated computer-based models they simulated its interaction with the planet’s other air currents. Upon collision they create small perturbations, thus forming a hexagonal shape around the North Pole. While the researchers admit that previous studies have "succeeded in reproducing some, but not all, of the hexagon’s characteristics," this one has gone above and beyond what’s previously been achieved.

Interestingly, the hexagon weather formation rotates at the same speed as Saturn itself, a theory that the simulated model supports. They research also revealed that the jet occurs at the same level as Saturn’s clouds, with low lying winds contributing to maintaining the hexagon shape.

"With a very simple model, we have been able to match many of the observed properties of the hexagon," explains head researcher and lead author Raúl Morales-Juberías. As a planetary scientist at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Morales-Juberías definitely knows his stuff!

While it’s taken this long to figure out what causes the hexagon pattern, the phenomenon was first spotted by the Voyager spacecraft back in 1980. All up the formation is around 32,000 kilometres in length, with a vortex storm contained in its core. It’s a one of a king Solar System marvel and thanks to Morales-Juberías and his team, we’re now one step closer to understanding what makes it tick.

As Saturn is a gas planet, chromatographers were undoubtedly involved in the research. If you’re interested in finding out more about how the professionals contribute to contemporary science, ‘A Chromatographer in Copenhagen - Chris Bevan visits the ISC 2006 in Copenhagen and Stays Awhile’ is a fascinating read. As well as touching on the conference itself, Bevan also shines the spotlight on Copenhagen’s many charms.