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Co-authors: Aidi Zhang, Sungkyu Kim, Imke de Pater, Mike Wong, Anton Ermakov, Chris Moeckel, Daniele Durantej
Abstract: With sufficient resolution, a range of numerically-computed 3D vortices can quantitatively reproduce the observed velocity field of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot (GRS) at its cloud-tops. Due to the range of these solutions’ properties below the visible cloud tops, no particular vortex can be claimed to uniquely model the GRS. However, by requiring that the computed vortices also reproduce new cloud-top temperature observations, a unique solution to the equations of motion is obtained. This GRS solution has a vertical thickness of only $1\%$ of its east-west diameter, does not penetrate the underlying convection zone, and has a large Rossby number beneath its observable velocities, so it violates the quasi-geostrophic and shallow-water approximations. The 3D GRS is poorly approximated by 2D models, models based on potential vorticity dynamics, statistical models based on maximum entropy, and solitary wave models. Like an iceberg, upper surface observations of the GRS are misleading.