,,- University of the Basque Country (EHU), Department of Applied Physics, Bilbao, Spain (paula.avalle@ehu.eus)
Water is thought to play a crucial role in the formation and evolution of Jupiter and Saturn. At the same time, water is also a key element in shaping various phenomena in the weather layers of these planets. For example, large and intense convective storms in Jupiter are interpreted as the signature of intense water moist convection driven by the release of latent heat when water condenses. The largest convective storms in Jupiter suggest a minimum water abundance of at least 1 times solar, and possibly higher [1]. However, in Gas Giants atmospheres, where dry air is composed of hydrogen and helium, water increases the molecular weight of a parcel and can completely inhibit moist convection for water abundances on the order of 5 times solar [2, 3]. Juno measurements with the MWR instrument suggest a deep-water abundance of 2.7 ± 2.0 [4] with the highest possible values near the convective inhibition limit. Thus, a relevant question raised by Juno measurements is what are the potential characteristics of water powered moist convective storms close to the convective inhibition limit.
Here, we use a three-dimensional cloud-resolving model [5] with highly parametrized microphysics to simulate water driven moist convective storms examining different water abundances close to the convective inhibition limit around 5 times solar abundance. We find that weak perturbations are able to start moist convection when water abundance is low, but strong perturbations are still able to trigger intense convective storms near the limit of inhibition. Our results represent a first step toward the development of a new generation of convective models aimed at addressing open questions about atmospheric dynamics in Gas Giant planets, particularly in the context of the upcoming JUICE mission.
References
[1] Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al. 2008, Nature, 451, 437-440
[2] Guillot, T. 1995, Science, 269, 1697
[3] Leconte, J. et al. 2017, A&A, 598, A98
[4] Li, C. et al. 2020, Nature Astronomy, 4, 609-616
[5] Hueso, R. & Sánchez-Lavega, A. 2004, Icarus, 172, 255-271
How to cite: Avalle-Gràcia, P., Hueso, R., and Iñurrigarro, P.: Three-dimensional simulations of moist convective water storms in Jupiter’s atmosphere: exploring the dichotomy between energetic storms and the inhibition of convection, Europlanet Science Congress 2026, The Hague, The Netherlands, 7–11 Sep 2026, EPSC2026-437, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2026-437, 2026.
