Massive Lightning Storm on Saturn

Aielman writes to tell us Yahoo News is reporting that Researchers are tracking a gigantic electrical storm on Saturn that has released lightning bolts more than one thousand times stronger than those found on Earth. The storms where first spotted earlier this year from the Cassini probe and since that time scientists have recorded 35 consecutive episodes each lasting about ten hours.

Comments

Lovely Summer Months in Southern Saturn

[eldavojohn]

These storms (and their cycles) are old news. Hubble spotted them back in 1990, the only new information we have today is how strong the lightening is. From the Solar Views article:

Although these events were separated by about 57 years (approximately 2 Saturnian years) there is yet no explanation why they apparently follow a cycle -- occurring when it is summer in Saturn's northern hemisphere.

Now that'd be interesting to know how these storms work on a two planet year cycle as our monsoons and other weather phenomenon seem to primarily operate on single planet year cycles. This area has been nicknamed "Storm Alley."

For more information on how the bands that show up on Saturn reflect weather patterns, check out the weather section on this planet at NJU.

The planet's got 30 named satellites and the most prominent feature a belt of dust and debris. I'm sure there's a lot of factors at play here--probably more than our own atmosphere. There's a lot of talk about cosmic rays actually being the cause of lightning on both Jupiter and Saturn but this topic is heavily debated.

Re:Lovely Summer Months in Southern Saturn

[east coast]

I don't know if the two year cycle is as clear-cut as you're saying it is, given the relatively small number of Saturn years observed

That is the problem in research, how long do you observe something until you can seperate coincidence with what is truely a pattern. Look at global warming, there is a lot of evidence to come to the conclusion that it's human dickering but there is also the question of this maybe being part of a natural cycle. Until we get our hands on a large portion of first hand obsevred data it's going to be hard to come to a firm conclusion.

George Carlin once said it was arrogant of us to think that we can change the planet let alone save it. Maybe he's right. But for now you need to take the data at hand and start to work on theories about what might be going on and apply whatever solution may be needed. In the case of Saturn I think we're pretty far from needing to worry about it much.

Re:Lovely Summer Months in Southern Saturn

[cowscows]

Following a little further off topic, you're hinting at the biggest problem we have with the whole Global Warming debate. There are two extremes, either we're totally wrecking the planet, or it's all a natural cycle that we're too insignificant to affect. The loudest voices in the debate are generally arguing one of the two extremes, and neither extreme position is terribly useful for collecting good data or presenting real solutions.

And the truth is probably somewhere in between. Why a more realistic and sensible look at the available information doesn't seem to motivate anyone is a mystery to me.

Mage

[nmccart]

What level does your mage have to be to call down a lightning storm of that magnitude?

Re:Mage

[Rei]

Whatever level it takes, I'm sure that you can pay someone in China to level you that high ;)

In other news..

[Rob T Firefly]

Members of Saturn's DeLorean owners' association report that thanks to the storms, their cars are disappearing into Time left and right.

Re:In other news..

[Ekarderif]

Saturn doesn't make DeLoreans.

Death by lightning bolts.

[Bnderan]

lightning bolts more than one thousand times stronger than those found on Earth. So if you got hit by one, it would kill you like ... a thousand times worse. NASA better do something about this!

Re:happens all the time...on uranus

[KentoNET]

I can't wait till 2620 when scientists rename it to Urectum to end that stupid joke once and for all.

One possible explanation

[Billosaur]

Thundercats, HOOOOOOOOO!!!

I am the only logical choice.

[hockpatooie]

My superior Vulcan physiology will allow me to withstand lightning surges a thousand times stronger than what is found on your native world. Therefore, I am the only logical choice to investigate this phenomenon. I will fly a standard shuttlecraft into the atmosphere of Saturn, climb out on the roof while the craft is in motion, and hold aloft a Terran golf club in order to be struck by this lightning and study its effects. I have programmed the shuttlecraft to return to the starship automatically in the event that I do not survive the lighting strike.

Please do not try to stop me. A Vulcan is always prepared to sacrifice himself for the good of the many. It is only logical. Your fragile human makeup would not even be able to withstand the atmosphere of Saturn, much less the electrical energy produced by lighting a thousand times more powerful than that found on your own small homeworld.