Study links magnetic tornadoes to Earth-sized storms on Jupiter

A recent study suggests that magnetic tornadoes on Jupiter may cause Earth-sized storms in its atmosphere. These storms, observed as dark ovals, are primarily found in Jupiter's polar regions and absorb ultraviolet light. The research indicates that these storms form from swirling magnetic vortices created by friction between Jupiter's strong magnetic field and its ionosphere. This interaction may stir up aerosols, leading to dense patches of haze. Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope between 2015 and 2022 showed that these dark ovals appeared frequently at Jupiter's south pole but were rare at the north pole. The storms typically last about a month before dissipating.