Jupiter's Magnetic Tornadoes Unleash Earth-Sized Polar Storms
Planetary scientists have discovered that magnetic vortices on Jupiter, originating from its ionosphere, are creating massive Earth-sized anticyclonic storms visible in ultraviolet light. These storms, appearing as dark ovals, are formed by friction between magnetic field lines and are linked to the Io Plasma Torus. The findings, based on Hubble Space Telescope images, suggest that Jupiter experiences regular magnetic tornadoes, contributing to the formation of these dense, UV-absorbing hazes.