Unraveling the Enigma of Saturn's Centuries-Long Megastorms
Scientists have discovered that the impacts of megastorms on Saturn, which occur once every 20 or 30 years, can last for centuries. Using radio telescope scans, researchers found traces of megastorms that occurred over 100 years ago, as well as a potentially new storm. These storms drive a mysterious ammonia transport process, dragging ammonia gas from the upper atmosphere into the lower atmosphere. The mechanisms behind these atmospheric anomalies and the formation of megastorms remain a mystery, but studying them could broaden our understanding of giant planet formation and storm systems.