Publication Date:
2011-08-24
Description:
The GISS GCM is used here to examine the hypothesis that equatorial superrotation on slowly rotating planets is sensitive to the nature of the vertical radiative heating profile and can exist in the absence of diurnally varying forcing. The general circulation, diabatic heating, and thermal structure produced in the experiments are described and the heat and angular momentum budgets and energy cycles are analyzed to understand the factors conducive to equatorial superrotation. The implications of the results for future planetary missions are addressed.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035); 101; 1; p. 1-17.
Format:
text
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