Jupiter may be undergoing climate change

BERKELEY, Calif., May 27 (UPI) -- U.S. astronomers say increased turbulence and storms first observed on Jupiter more than two years ago might be causing global climate change on the planet.

The ongoing turbulence is causing stunning changes in the planet's atmosphere, said lead astronomer Professor Imke de Pater of the University of California-Berkeley and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii.

The upheaval was first noted in December 2005 by a color change from white to red of a large oval near the Great Red Spot, earning it the nickname Red Spot Jr.

"One of the most notable changes we observe in both Hubble and Keck images is the change from a rather bland, quiescent band surrounding the Great Red Spot just over a year ago to one that is incredibly turbulent at both sides of the spot," de Pater said.

The Great Red Spot is a persistent, high-pressure storm on Jupiter with cloud tops some 5 miles above the surrounding cloud deck.

Why the spot is red is a subject of great debate, de Pater said.