Vast atmospheric waves on Venus are caused by largest known 'hydraulic jump'

Vast atmospheric waves on Venus are caused by largest known 'hydraulic jump'

The mysterious origin of an impressive cloud disturbance on Venus has now been revealed by a team including the University of Tokyo. Researchers used numerical models to show that an enormous 6,000-kilometer-wide atmospheric wave front, which circumnavigates the planet for days at a time, is caused by a large "hydraulic jump." This is when a fluid abruptly slows down, changing from shallow and fast to deep and slow.

Solar system's largest hydraulic jump drives massive cloud waves across Venus

A kitchen-sink effect scaled to planetary proportions explains the 6,000 km wave front sweeping Venus, created when shifting airflow launches sulfuric acid vapor into clouds.