科學家發現土星上的新天氣模式
Scientists discover new weather patterns on Saturn
Updated at: September 7, 2026 at 01:30 AM
土星持續為天文學家帶來驚喜。
Saturn continues to surprise astronomers.
在2026年發表的一項開創性發現中，研究人員確認出環繞該行星南極的一個巨大的十邊形大氣波模式，即「十邊形」。
In a groundbreaking discovery announced in 2026, researchers identified a massive 10-sided atmospheric wave pattern, or 'decagon,' circling the planet's south pole.
儘管土星北極長期以來都有著著名的六邊形，但這是首次在南半球觀察到長期存在的多邊形模式。
While Saturn's north pole has long featured a famous hexagon, this is the first time a long-term polygonal pattern has been observed in the southern hemisphere.
這個十邊形跨度超過100,000英哩，鑲嵌在強大的向東噴流中，並緩慢地繞著極點移動。
Spanning over 100,000 miles, this decagon is embedded in powerful eastward jet streams and moves slowly around the pole.
科學家相信，這個特徵形成於2017年至2023年之間，當時行星的方位使得地基望遠鏡難以觀測該區域。
Scientists believe this feature formed between 2017 and 2023, a time when the planet's orientation made it difficult for Earth-based telescopes to observe the region.
這項發現意義重大，因為它表明土星的極端環境天然地促進了這些幾何圖形在兩極的形成。
This discovery is significant because it suggests that Saturn’s extreme environment naturally favors the formation of these geometric shapes at both poles.
與地球不同，土星缺乏固體表面，這使得風力能夠達到驚人的速度，從而產生這些複雜的波紋。
Unlike Earth, Saturn lacks a solid surface, allowing winds to reach staggering speeds that create these complex waves.
研究人員正在研究來自極光的電流如何加熱大氣層，從而助推這些全球性的風系。
Researchers are now studying how electric currents from polar auroras heat the atmosphere, helping to drive these global wind systems.
通過對這些「軟」渦流基底進行建模，科學家希望能解開關於氣態巨行星內部組成的祕密，以及為何它們能夠創造出這種精確且大規模的自然幾何結構。
By modeling these 'soft' vortex bases, scientists hope to unlock secrets about the internal composition of gas giants and why they are capable of creating such precise, large-scale natural geometry.
