Merging of vortices in the atmosphere of Jupiter - An analysis of Voyager images

The present study of interactions between Jupiter spots, using the Voyager 2 cylindrical projection mosaics, notes that collisions between spots are irreversible, in contrast with solitary wave-type interactions. In 23 of 27 cases, interactions lead to a merging of the two original spots. Interactions of spots with filamentary regions usually lead to a disappearance of the spot; filamentary regions are noted to be the major source of spots. Stable spots do not generate other spots, instead destroying each other by merging. Most spots are anticyclonic, and lie in cyclonic shear zones.