Re:Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Likely a Massive Heat Source
by akiselev on Thursday July 28, 2016 @02:56PM
(#12182322)
Yes, according to [1] Jupiter's thermosphere has a pressure between 10^-1 and roughly 10^-4 Pascal so we're talking about a very low density. The thermosphere layer is huge though so we're still talking about a tremendous amount of energy.
Re:Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Likely a Massive Heat Source
by Florin_Andrei on Thursday July 28, 2016 @03:49PM
(#12182678)
Yup.
Heat loss via radiation never stops. So if it outcompetes other heat transfer mechanisms, the net result is cooling.
Re:Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Likely a Massive Heat Source
by otempomores on Friday July 29, 2016 @03:11PM
(#12189193)
Eldest lightningball if the system
For me, a "massive heat source" is something that is pumping out lots of heat energy, not necessarily something that is hot. But the OP speaks of sonic waves heating upper-atmosphere gas ... very thin gas. It doesn't take much energy to heat a very thin gas.
We are into that weird place where a gas can be thousands of degrees hot, but if you were standing in it your flesh would still freeze (after you die of something else).