A high-resolution, three-dimensional model of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

The turbulent flow at the periphery of the Great Red Spot (GRS) contains many fine-scale filamentary structures, while the more quiescent core: bounded by a narrow high-velocity ring, exhibits organized, possibly counterrotating, motion. Past studies have neither been able to capture this complexity nor adequately study the effects of vertical stratification L-R(z) on the GRS. We present results from a series of high-resolution, three-dimensional simulations that advect the dynamical tracer, potential vorticity. The detailed flow is successfully captured with a characteristic value of L-R approximate to 2000 km, independent of the precise vertical stratification profile.