Vortices

The Great Red Spot of Jupiter is a huge storm, or vortex, that has endured for centuries, baffling scientists trying to explain its longevity.  A new computer simulation study suggests part of the answer is the vertical flow of energy within a vortex.

Physicists have tended to focus on horizontal energy flows in vortices, but the systems may be renewed by pulling new energy in vertically.  The theory could also help explain vortices in Earth's oceans and even star formation.