Atmosphere of Saturn: composition, structure

Planet Saturn is included in the category of gasgiants of the solar system. In size it is the second after Jupiter, it has a huge mass and a dense layer of rings that surround it. The atmosphere of Saturn - a phenomenon that for many years was the subject of disputes among scientists. But today it is reliably established that it is gases that form the basis of the entire air body, which does not have a solid surface.

The history of the great discovery

For a long time, scientists believed that ourthe system is closed precisely by this huge planet, and there is already nothing behind its orbit. Her study was done from the distant 1610, after Galileo examined Saturn in a telescope, and also identified in his records the presence of his rings. In those years, no one could think that this heavenly body is so different from Earth, Venus or Mars: it does not even have a surface and consists entirely of gases heated up to unimaginable temperatures. The presence of the atmosphere of Saturn was confirmed only in the twentieth century. Moreover, only modern scientists were able to conclude that the planet is a gas sphere.

She was investigated by the satellite Voyager-1, which was ablerelease the probe into the outer atmosphere. Photographs were obtained that indicated the hydrogen content mainly in the composition of Saturn clouds, as well as many other gases. Since then, studies have been conducted only on the basis of theories and calculations. And here it is fair to note that one of the most mysterious and unexplored planets up to the present moment is precisely Saturn.

The presence of the atmosphere, its composition

We know that the terrestrial planets thatare in close proximity to the Sun, do not have an atmosphere. But this solid bodies, which consist of stone and metal, have a certain mass and the corresponding parameters. With gas balls things are very different. The atmosphere of Saturn is the basis of himself. Infinite gas vapors, fogs and clouds collect in an incredible amount and form the shape of a ball due to the magnetic field of the nucleus.

The basis of the atmosphere of the planet is hydrogen: it is over 96 percent. As impurities, other gases are present, the proportions of which depend on the depth. It is worth noting that there are no water crystals, various modifications of ice and other organic substances on Saturn.

Two layers of the atmosphere and their composition

So, the atmosphere of Saturn is divided into two parts: outer layer and inner. The first consists of 96.3 percent of molecular hydrogen, 3 percent of helium. To these basic gases are mixed such components as phosphine, ammonia, methane and ethane. Here there are strong surface winds, the speed of which reaches 500 m / s. As for the lower layer of the atmosphere, here is dominated by metallic hydrogen - about 91 percent, as well as helium. In this environment are clouds of ammonium hydrosulfide. The lower atmospheric layer is always heated to the limit. As we approach the nucleus, the temperature reaches thousands of Kelvin, because for the time being it is impossible to investigate the planet with probes made under terrestrial conditions.

Atmospheric phenomena

The most common phenomena on thisthe planet are wind and hurricanes. Most of the flows are blowing from west to east with respect to axial rotation. A slight lull is observed in the equatorial region, and as it moves away from it, western streams arise. There are places on Saturn where certain weather phenomena occur with constant frequency. For example, a large white oval occurs in the southern hemisphere once every thirty years. During such "bad weather" atmosphere of Saturn, whose composition further contributes to this phenomenon, everything is literally pierced with lightning. Discharges occur mainly in the middle latitudes, between the equator and the poles. As for the latter, the main phenomenon here is the polar light. Stronger outbreaks occur in the north, since there the magnetic field is stronger than in the south. The radiance appears in the form of oval rings or spirals.

Pressure and temperature

As it turned out, the atmosphere of Saturn makes thisthe planet is cool enough in comparison with Jupiter, but certainly not as icy as Uranus and Neptune. In the upper layers, the temperature is about -178 degrees Celsius, taking into account the constant winds and hurricanes. The closer we move to the core, the more pressure is exerted, hence the temperature rises. In the middle layers it is -88 degrees, and pressure - about a thousand atmospheres. The extreme point reached by the probe was a temperature zone of -3. According to calculations in the core of the planet, the pressure reaches 3 million atmospheres. The temperature is 11,700 degrees Celsius.

Afterword

We briefly reviewed what is the structure ofthe atmosphere of Saturn. Its composition can be compared with Jupiter, and there are similarities with the ice giants - Uranus and Neptune. But, like every gas balloon, Saturn is unique in its structure. Very strong winds are blowing here, the pressure reaches incredible values, and the temperature remains cool (by astronomical measures).