Gravitational tides on Jupiter. 3: Atmospheric response and mean flow acceleration

Abstract

The gravitational tidal response at the visible cloud level of Jupiter is obtained as a function of static stability in the planetary interior. It is suggested that confirmation of the presence of static stability in the planetary interior could be achieved by observing tidal fields at cloud level. We also calculate the mean flow acceleration induced by tidal fields and suggest that, if the interior is even marginally statically stable, the tides may provide the momentum source maintaining the alternating zonal jets observed at the cloud level of the planet.