[12]  SEB revival: Circulating Current Observed! (report, 2007 July 6th)

The first of the retrograding dark spots on the SEB(S) has indeed recirculated to the STBn jet at STrD-1, in the first display of the
Circulating Current ever to be fully documented by imaging. The second spot is recirculating now!

These events started on July 1 as predicted, and have been followed almost single-handedly by Isao Miyazaki (Okinawa, Japan).  This images would have greatly delighted the old BAA observers who were the first, and last, to record this phenomenon in the early 20th century.

The Circulating Current, at the p. side of a S. Tropical Disturbance (STrD), transfers spots from the SEBs jetstream (westward) to the STBn jetstream
(eastward), causing them to reverse their drifts of around 4 deg/day or ~200 km/hr!  This phenomenon was first recorded during the SEB Revival in 1920, and again in 1932-34, by BAA visual observers.  Those observations involved the Great STrD, and were thoroughly described by B.M. Peek in his book. There was no further STrD with an observable circulation until 1979 when one fortunately arose during the Voyager 2 encounter, but the Voyager images showed that SEB(S) spots became trapped and destroyed in the circulation, rather than emerging onto the STBn.  In 1980-81, spots did emerge p. the same STrD in the STBn jetstream, but it was not clear if they had recirculated from SEBs.  In 1993, there was again a STrD during the SEB Revival and there was evidence for circulation within it but no further. Thus, the present observations are the first in the modern era to show
complete recirculation from the SEBs jetstream to the STBn jetstream.

The attached set of images shows the phenomenon in detail. (It also shows mergers of two pairs of spots which overtook each other: two mini-barges in the SEB, and two other dark spots in the SEB(S) chain.)

THE S.E.B. REVIVAL OUTBREAK:

Finally, a quick summary of the progress of the SEB Revival:

The southern branch consists of the dark spots retrograding on SEB(S); there is now a long chain of them from the source up to STrD-1.

The source region, at L2 ~ 180, continues to produce bright and dark spots and is a scene of great turbulence.  Recently STrD-2, next to the course,
has darkened again.

Turbulent spots have now prograded to the Red Spot Hollow, and it was not clear whether they would extend p. it.  On June 27, images revealed were two striking developments from this interaction: (i) a very dark rim developed on the f. side of the Red Spot Hollow (presumably prograding dark material reflected around the GRS); (ii) a long series of 'waves' on the SEB(N) p. the GRS (indicating that disturbance from the SEB Revival may now be extending p. the GRS).  (See the attached image.)
 
The activity continues...

_________________________________

John Rogers,
Jupiter Section Director,
British Astronomical Association.