Storms on Saturn baffle scientists
The uncertainty of science: Scientists have identified a new type of storm on Saturn, and they don’t understand the weather processes that produced it.
Until now, astronomers had seen only two kinds of Saturnian storms: relatively small storms about 2,000 kilometers across that appear as bright clouds for a few days and Great White Spots that are 10 times as large and last for months. The newly spotted weather disturbance was a series of four midsize storms. Each was several thousand kilometers across and lasted between about 1.5 weeks and about seven months.
It appears that these midsize storms don’t fit any of their present theories about the formation of storms on Saturn.
However, for any scientist at this time to suggest that any theory about the storms on gas giants like Jupiter or Saturn can explain things is for that scientist to reveal themselves to be arrogant fools. We simply do not know anything about the deep atmospheres and vast climates of such planets. For example, we have yet to send a satellite to either planet devoted entirely to studying their atmospheres. And considering the size of these planets, such research would require a lot more than one orbiter to get a global picture. And it would require decades of coverage to get a long term picture.
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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The uncertainty of science: Scientists have identified a new type of storm on Saturn, and they don’t understand the weather processes that produced it.
Until now, astronomers had seen only two kinds of Saturnian storms: relatively small storms about 2,000 kilometers across that appear as bright clouds for a few days and Great White Spots that are 10 times as large and last for months. The newly spotted weather disturbance was a series of four midsize storms. Each was several thousand kilometers across and lasted between about 1.5 weeks and about seven months.
It appears that these midsize storms don’t fit any of their present theories about the formation of storms on Saturn.
However, for any scientist at this time to suggest that any theory about the storms on gas giants like Jupiter or Saturn can explain things is for that scientist to reveal themselves to be arrogant fools. We simply do not know anything about the deep atmospheres and vast climates of such planets. For example, we have yet to send a satellite to either planet devoted entirely to studying their atmospheres. And considering the size of these planets, such research would require a lot more than one orbiter to get a global picture. And it would require decades of coverage to get a long term picture.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Saturn, Titan, and Enceladus are far and away my favourite places in the solar system.
It seems to me that with current or “soon” technology it would be perfectly reasonable to launch a flagship mission involving an orbiter which could release a legion of smallsats to photograph the rings REALLY close up, sample Titans atmosphere, do the plumbs of Enceladus, ( and even a hard landing ) and a decent into the highest level of Saturn’s atmosphere.
I am sure it will come… But I would like to see the results in my lifetime…
On a kinda related note… Whic I have often considered, but not for a while now, and perhaps never on here…
I believe the average contribution to NASA from an average US tax payer is around the 0.5% of tax on income.
I know there are very litteraly millions of us outside the US who would be more than happy to “chip in”.. if there was a mechanism to allow it.
I have no idea how it could be made workable, but there are millions upon millions of us here outside the USA who look in wonder at your space agency…
If there are any internet banking geniuses out there… Have a think… And if it’s workable, have a word in NASA’s ear!!
Lee S,
It looks like donations to NASA are possible:
https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/npg_img/N_PR_1210_001A_/N_PR_1210_001A_.pdf
“This NASA Procedural Requirement (NPR) establishes responsibilities, procedures, and requirements governing the use and expenditure of funds in the form of monetary gifts, donations, and bequests that are unsolicited and offered to NASA without condition.”
It looks like you may not direct your donation to any specific program, project, or facility but only to NASA in general for it to choose how to spend.
I found this by starting with this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/2mcnw6/we_cant_donate_money_to_nasa_so_what_is_the_next/
One comment directs prospective donors to this page to print out and send in with your donation:
https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PD_1210_001G_&page_name=main
An alternative would be to invest in a company that is working on the project that you wish to fund, but this is ownership, not donation toward the project.
Thank you for your interest in our space agency. It is nice to know that it is appreciated.
Please be aware, however, that your country also has its own space agency:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_National_Space_Agency