Frontogenesis at Jovian high latitudes

Frontogenesis is the process by which fronts, separating fluids of different temperatures, are generated in the terrestrial atmosphere and oceans. It is of interest to consider whether this process appears in other planetary atmospheres. Here we analyse infra-red images taken by the Juno spacecraft at the Jovian poles and reveal ubiquitous vortices with a diameter of hundreds to thousands of kilometres and filaments with a width of tens of kilometres embedded in between the vortices. Our analysis shows that the filaments are dynamically active, reminiscent of terrestrial frontogenesis. Furthermore, our results indicate that Jovian frontogenesis acts in concert with moist convection, with the former mechanism favouring the development of cyclones and the latter the development of anti-cyclones. Even though moist convection is the main driver, frontogenesis accounts for a quarter of the total transfer of potential to kinetic energy, enhancing the upscale transfer of energy to larger vortices. Frontogenesis contributes 40% to the vertical heat transport, efficiently redistributing heat from Jupiter’s interior to its tropopause. This study highlights the broad range of interacting scales from tens to thousands of kilometres and the diverse physical mechanisms active at Jovian high latitudes.