title: Cassini Imaging Science: initial results on Saturn's atmosphere.
abstract: The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) began observing Saturn in early February 2004. From analysis of cloud motions through early October 2004, we report vertical wind shear in Saturn's equatorial jet and a maximum wind speed of approximately 375 meters per second, a value that differs from both Hubble Space Telescope and Voyager values. We also report a particularly active narrow southern mid-latitude region in which dark ovals are observed both to merge with each other and to arise from the eruptions of large, bright storms. Bright storm eruptions are correlated with Saturn's electrostatic discharges, which are thought to originate from lightning.
authors.affiliation: Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations, Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut Street, Suite 205, Boulder, CO 80301, USA. carolyn@ciclops.org
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Porco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beurle
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authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brahic
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Charnoz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Del Genio
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authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Denk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dones
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dyudina
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grazier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helfenstein
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ingersoll
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: T V
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authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neukum
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roatsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spitale
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squyres
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiscareno
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turtle
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vasavada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veverka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D018539:Saturn; D018531:Spacecraft; D014919:Wind