Short-term Jovian rotation profiles, 1970-1972.

Results of a study of the motions of features in Jupiter's atmosphere noted on blue-light photographs from three 25-day periods centered on opposition in 1970, 1971, and 1972. Short-term rotation profiles for these years are obtained which, at certain latitudes, differ significantly from a mean multiple-year profile and from each other. In particular, it is found that in 1970 and 1971 the rotational period was slightly shorter near the edges of the equatorial jet than at its center, while in 1972 it was not. This center-to-edge shear of 1970 and 1971 amounted to about 10 m/sec. In addition, a feature observed in 1972 at 37 N was found to exhibit an abrupt change in period amounting to an increase of 95.1 sec.