Unlike the storms swirling around the gas giant of Jupiter, Earth’s storms are affected by the oceans and mountains.
Science will often, in an effort to simplify and provide a reference point, compare findings here on Earth with disparate examples elsewhere, either on the planet or off. A group of scientists looking to understand how storm tracks work here on Earth looked to the smooth surface of Jupiter to form a base of comparison.
Computer simulations that depicted Earth in several formations led scientists to find that there is a comparable effect on the storm tracks made by ocean dynamics and mountains. (more…)