The Genesis, Stability, and Vertical Structure of Jupiter Polar Vortices: from 2D to 3D Perspectives

Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of the polar vortices of gas giants, yet a unified theory explaining their genesis remains elusive. Li et al. (2020) demonstrated that a finite radius of deformation and an anticyclonic ring (shielding) around each cyclone were required for a stable pattern. Conversely, Siegelman et al. (2022) found stable patterns without the formation of shielding, working with an infinite radius of deformation. There were also 3D modelling attempts. For example, Cai et al. (2021) used a dry 3D model to generate a closely packed lattice of cyclones. This study employs the shallow water model based on the Athena++ SNAP architecture (Li & Chen, 2021) to analyze the conditions required for vortex lattice formation. We identified parameter sets needed to create a stable vortex lattice under ideal conditions in Jupiter's polar regions and shed light on why these parameters are efficacious. We then investigated this problem with the 3D cloud-resolving model, which has not been applied to the poles of Jupiter before, and analyzed the genesis of the vortices and their vertical structure. We connected the critical parameters, such as the forcing scale and radius of deformation, in 2D simulations, to the results obtained with 3D models.