Jupiter’s Wind-blown Magnetic Field

Jupiter’s magnetic field is changing in time. This is the first definitive detection of time-variation in a planetary magnetic field beyond Earth.

Jupiter’s atmospheric winds are likely responsible for this time-variation. These winds extend over 3000 km deep to where the interior is highly conductive & advect the field, shearing it apart and carrying it around the planet. 


Analysis provides a lower bound on Jupiter’s wind velocity of 4 cm/s (at 0.95RJ).

Future orbits will further constrain Jupiter’s interior.

Credit: Kimberly Moore (kimberlymoore@g.harvard.edu), Hao Cao, Jeremy Bloxham, David Stevenson, John Connerney, & Scott Bolton

Download Jupiter's Wind-blown Magnetic Field here