INDUCTION OF VORTEX STRUCTURES IN THE JOVIAN ATMOSPHERE BY FRAGMENTS OF COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY-9

Possible perturbations of the Jovian atmosphere caused by the incidenc e of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 are analyzed. The energy rele ased as a result of the destruction of the largest fragments in the at mosphere is sufficient for the formation of long-lived vortex structur es in the upper layers of the atmosphere. The primary mechanism for th e formation of large-scale vortices is a horizontal baroclinity. The c onclusions reached here are supported by astronomical observations of the collision of the comet with Jupiter. The subsequent evolution of t he vortices which are formed is predicted on the basis of a model of a 2D baroclinic Jovian atmosphere. (C) 1994 American Institute of Physi cs.