Winds On Uranus And Neptune Can Reach Supersonic Speeds

Question: Where in our solar system are the strongest winds?

Answer: Giant planets in the outer solar system, like Uranus and Neptune, are dominated by winds that can reach supersonic speeds and jet streams 10 to 15 times stronger than those found on Earth.

See also: HD 189733b: A Blue Marble Planet Where It Rains Super-Hot Glass

The winds of Uranus can blow clouds up to 560 miles per hour (900 kilometers per hour), while Neptune’s winds can reach up to 1,500 miles per hour (2,400 kilometers per hour), the fastest planetary winds detected yet in the solar system.

The powerful winds of Uranus and Neptune are apparently confined to tight layers in both planets, researchers have determined. Past studies have suggested the winds on Uranus and Neptune might arise one of two ways — either shallow processes in their outer atmospheres, or deeper atmospheric mechanisms extending into their interiors.

MessageToEagle.com

Source:
Space.com