This is an image of Uranus.
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Image from: NASA
Jupiter's Mesosphere
The mesosphere of Jupiter is a region of balance between warming and cooling. That essentially means that nothing happens there. Except for
diffusion, the atmosphere is still.
Upper reaches of the atmosphere, such as the mesosphere, can sometimes be detected by looking at the limb of a planet, as shown in this image. Unfortunately, nothing of the mesosphere can be seen in this image. For a picture showing how the temperature changes in the mesosphere, click here.
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Diffusion means the slow motion of molecules from one place to another. As solid as a pane of glass can seem, molecules of air can easily pass through the glass. This can readily be noticed on a cold winter
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This is the temperature profile of Jupiter's mesosphere. The temperature is the same at all heights until the mesopause, or "top" of the mesosphere is reached. As shown in the figure, the mesopause is
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As on Earth, the atmosphere of Jupiter consists of a troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. The troposphere is the region where the visible clouds are to be found. The stratosphere, as
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The giant planets have definitely changed since their formation. But how much remains to be seen. Most of the original air of the giant planets remains in place. (The earth-like planets lost most of their
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The mesosphere of Jupiter is a region of balance between warming and cooling. That essentially means that nothing happens there. Except for diffusion, the atmosphere is still. Upper reaches of the atmosphere,
...more
The stratosphere of Jupiter is a region of warming as determined by infrared measurements of methane (CH4) in the region. Like the troposphere, the stratosphere is warmed by the sun, warmed by Jupiter's
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The troposphere of Jupiter is where the clouds are. Clouds form in regions of strong atmospheric motion, when condensation takes place. The troposphere is the region rapidly stirred by vertical motions.
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