Are the Planets Inhabited?Maunder, E. Walter (Edward Walter)
Science
Are the Planets Inhabited?
Maunder, E. Walter (Edward Walter)
Life on other planets
Unless there is the counteracting effect of a high temperature, the
atmosphere of Jupiter would have a pressure at the surface of 104 lb. to
the square inch, and the level of half pressure be attained at a mile and
a quarter; the reverse condition to that on Mars would obtain, and the
atmosphere of Jupiter would be much denser and much shallower than that of
the Earth. Denser it probably is; shallower it cannot be, for the great
white spots, each often five or six thousand miles in diameter, that range
themselves at times along the equatorial regions till they look like the
portholes of a ship, evidently rise from depths great even as compared
with their size. But it is only by intense heat that the effect of the
great mass of Jupiter in constricting its atmosphere within shallow depths
can be overcome.
Again, the extraordinary lightness of the planet, so little above the
density of water, points in the same direction. So, not less unmistakably,
do the magnitude and rapidity of the atmospheric movements. The clouds and
storms of our own atmosphere are worked by solar heat; solar heat it is
that draws up the vapours and provides the chief part of the energy
manifested in the speed and strength of the air-current. But solar heat
can only give 1/27th the amount of that energy at the distance of Jupiter,
so that, if they were entirely dependent on solar radiation, the winds of
Jupiter should be very feeble.
Further, the difference of presentment due to the difference of latitude
is a fruitful cause of inequalities of temperature and pressure in the
terrestrial atmosphere. But as a degree of latitude on Jupiter is eleven
times as wide as on the Earth, such inequalities connected with a given
difference in latitude are spread over eleven times the distance that they
would be on the Earth, and are, therefore, so much the less pronounced.
Yet, across a gulf of 400 millions of miles we can clearly discern the
bright zones of Jupiter now narrowing down and constricting the red belts,
now thrust apart by them, and can detect changes taking place in an hour
of time over areas equal to that of a terrestrial hemisphere.
A notable peculiarity of Jupiter is found in the proper motions of its
spots. Many of the white spots are exceedingly swift, giving a rotation
period of 9h. 50m. while the equatorial belt in general gives a period 5m.
longer; so that in 119 rotations (nearly 49 days) a white spot will have
passed entirely round the belt, gaining upon it at a rate of nearly 240
miles an hour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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