Winds Of Uranus

Uranus, seventh planet of solar system, appears a placid blue in 1986 Voyager 2 image (picture). New infrared images captured by Keck Observatory in Hawaii, reveal "bizarre weather" patterns on Uranus, however. “Some of these weather systems stay at fixed latitudes and undergo large variations in activity. Others are seen to drift toward the planet’s equator while undergoing great changes in size and shape. Better measures of the wind fields that surround these massive weather systems are the key to unraveling their mysteries," said Larry Sromovsky, a Wisconsin Univ.-Madison researcher in recent Universe Today article. Sromovsky leads new study of Uranus using Keck II telescope.  A theory offered by article:  "One possible explanation, is that methane is pushed north by an atmospheric conveyor belt toward the pole where it wells up to form the convective features visible in the new images. The phenomena may be seasonal, the team said, but they are still working on trying to put together a clear seasonal trend in the winds of Uranus." It's a wrap on Uranus storm patterns, please stay tuned for weather updates!