瑞士日内瓦大学Pepe Francesco A.小组在最新研究中，报道了系外行星大气喷流的垂直结构。相关论文于2025年2月18日发表在《自然》杂志上。

研究人员表示，超热木星是太阳系中未发现的一类极端行星，为研究大气过程提供了一个独特的窗口。它们白天和夜晚的极端温度差异带来了一个基本的气候难题——能量是如何分布的?

为了解决这个问题，研究人员需要观察这些大气的三维结构，特别是它们的垂直环流模式，这可以作为先进的全球环流模式（GCM）的测试平台。

研究人员展示了在一个超热的木星上大气环流的一个戏剧性的变化——一个从面向恒星的热的一面到面向太空的冷的一面的单向流动，位于赤道超旋转喷射流的下面。通过解决大气动力学的垂直结构，研究团队超越了大气的综合全球快照，能够更准确地识别气流模式，并允许与模型进行更细致的比较。

基于第一性原理的全球环流模式难以复制观测到的环流模式，这突出了对大气流动的理论认识与观测证据之间的重大差距。这项工作可作为一个测试平台，在研究组为下一代巨型望远镜做准备的同时，用于开发适用于太阳系以外的更全面的模型。

附：英文原文

Title: Vertical structure of an exoplanet’s atmospheric jet stream

Author: Seidel, Julia V., Prinoth, Bibiana, Pino, Lorenzo, dos Santos, Leonardo A., Chakraborty, Hritam, Parmentier, Vivien, Sedaghati, Elyar, Wardenier, Joost P., Jentink, Casper Farret, Zapatero Osorio, Maria Rosa, Allart, Romain, Ehrenreich, David, Lendl, Monika, Roccetti, Giulia, Damasceno, Yuri, Bourrier, Vincent, Lillo-Box, Jorge, Hoeijmakers, H. Jens, Pall, Enric, Santos, Nuno, Surez Mascareo, Alejandro, Sousa, Sergio G., Tabernero, Hugo M., Pepe, Francesco A.

Issue&Volume: 2025-02-18

Abstract: Ultra-hot Jupiters, an extreme class of planets not found in our solar system, provide a unique window into atmospheric processes. The extreme temperature contrasts between their day- and night-sides pose a fundamental climate puzzle: how is energy distributed To address this, we must observe the 3D structure of these atmospheres, particularly their vertical circulation patterns, which can serve as a testbed for advanced Global Circulation Models (GCM) e.g.1. Here we show a dramatic shift in atmospheric circulation in an ultra-hot Jupiter: a unilateral flow from the hot star- facing side to the cooler space-facing side of the planet sits below an equatorial super-rotational jet stream. By resolving the vertical structure of atmospheric dynamics, we move beyond integrated global snapshots of the atmosphere, enabling more accurate identification of flow patterns and allowing for a more nuanced comparison to models. Global Circulation Models based on first principles struggle to replicate the observed circulation pattern3 underscoring a critical gap between theoretical understanding of atmospheric flows and observational evidence. This work serves as a testbed to develop more comprehensive models applicable beyond our Solar System as we prepare for the next generation of giant telescopes.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08664-1

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08664-1