PPT Slide
- The largest storm system known to man
- Has been around for at least 300 years
- Rotates in a counterclockwise direction
- Measures 14,000 km in the north-south direction
- Measures approximately 40,000 km in the east-west direction
- For comparison, the Earth's diameter is 12,700 km
- Located at 22.4 degrees south latitude
- A gradual shrinking of 0.14 degrees per year has been observed
- On the southern edge of the spot, there are east winds coming from the outh Tropical Zone
- On the northern edge, the storm is located in the South Equatorial Belt, which contains the strongest west winds on the planet (see below)
- This wind shear helps to maintain the anticyclonic rotation
- There are many smaller storms (ex. white ovals) on Jupiter