[14] The SEB revival outbreak so far (Nov 22nd, 2010.)

Here is a compilation of views of the SEB Revival outbreak so far.

It includes some of the best RGB and methane images on each rotation, approximately sized and aligned; and some notes on what they show.  Apologies to observers whose images haven't been included!  I can also send more extensive (though not tidy) compilations of images on each rotation separately, if anyone would like them. As observers have noted, the outbreak is developing rapidly now.

 Interesting features include:
--the very dark streak which is actually separate from the bright spot(s); it is not simply a border;
--a second white spot has appeared near the N end of the dark streak, but only gradually became methane-bright;
-- the first dark spot has appeared on SEBs (presumably retrograding).

It is developing just like the great SEB Revivals of the past, but much better observed!

SEB Revival compilation, Nov.14-20

Hello everyone,

Attached is a montage of images of the SEB Revival outbreak from Nov.14-20 (rotations 12-28).  (This follows on from the first montage sent out a week ago.)  It contains some of the best visible-light and methane-band images from each rotation when available, with a few near-infrared continuum images for completeness.

Many thanks to all the observers who have sent images, whether or not they are included in this set.

After the first white spot which defined the source (Nov.9, L2=290), and the more northerly white spot ('WS-N') which appeared on Nov.12, three more white spots have now appeared at the source: I have labelled them WS2 (Nov.14, L2=291), WS3 (Nov.17, L2=295), WS4 (Nov.20, L2=291).  They were all very methane-bright when first observed.  WS1-WS4 all appeared at the original latitude, and within a few degrees of the track of barge B2, but they were scattered about it, suggesting that the sub-surface source consists of a broadening cluster of storms rather than one single point.  WS4 actually arose within a narrow tendril of cloud that persisted after WS1 disappeared. 

Dark spots are forming and retrograding Sf. the source.  Their relationship to the previous retrograding wave pattern will be of interest. A first impression - awaiting accurate measurements -- is that the first dark spots just filled pre-existing projections, but later ones disrupt or replace the pre-existing pattern.  We can expect vortices to form soon.  This dark material is of special interest, in view of the recent analysis of Saturnian spots by Kevin Baines and Mona Delitsky (Plan.Space Sci.57, p.1650, and recent DPS press release). Cassini images revealed dark grey spots forming in the wake of Saturn's persistent thunderstorms, and they show that the dark material could be soot generated by the lightning. If this process also occurs on Jupiter (as Kevin Baines tells me it might do), given that the bright SEB spots are probably intense thunderstorms, the retrograding dark spots may contain soot generated therein.

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John H. Rogers, Ph.D. Jupiter Section Director,
British Astronomical Association