| Meteorological phenomena are commonly studied by computational simulations. Though hurricanes on Earth and the Great Red Spot on Jupiter are the most familiar, features on other planets can also prove useful to examine. Uranus and Neptune are similar in size and atmospheric composition, but the vortex features observed on these planets have shown different dynamical behaviors. Neptune's Great Dark Spot, discovered by Voyager II in 1989, was observed to exhibit shape oscillations while drifting towards the equator by ten degrees in latitude over eight months. On the other hand, the Uranian Dark Spot exhibited little to no drift over a similar stretch of observation when it appeared shortly before the planet's equinox. These large atmosphere vortices are often paired with bright companion clouds that have proven to be more than passive indicators of vortex locations and are a key component of complex dynamical systems. This study first conducted 3D simulations that were designed to examine these seasonally-driven changes in the Uranian atmosphere, but was halted due to an accumulation of supersaturated methane. A number of subsequent 2D tests aimed to find a solution to the atmospheric irregularity, the results of which led to another set of 3D simulations. The modified 3D tests analyzed local dynamics such as vertical velocity as well as overall hemispheric methane distribution. While this research will improve our understanding of the Uranian atmosphere and the design of future missions to this system, it will also assist in understanding the similar dynamics on Neptune, and potentially with similar phenomena in Earth's atmosphere like hurricane drift. |
