The Great Red Spot on Jupiter has captivated astronomers for centuries. First observed in 1664, this colossal storm system has been raging in Jupiter’s atmosphere with winds reaching speeds of 680 km/h (422 mph). With a current diameter of 16,350 km—making it larger than Earth—the Great Red Spot is one of the most iconic features of our solar system.

However, this massive storm has been mysteriously shrinking over the past 200 years. Early measurements from 1831 recorded the storm at a staggering 39,000 km wide, meaning it has already lost over two-thirds of its size. Scientists have long wondered what is causing this decline, and now, thanks to cutting-edge research, we may finally have an answer.

A Storm That Feeds on Other Storms

In 2021, researchers discovered a surprising phenomenon: the Great Red Spot appears to “consume” smaller storms that collide with it. Now, a team from Yale University has investigated this process further, using advanced 3D simulations of Jupiter’s atmosphere.

The team used a specialized model called Explicit Planetary Isentropic-Coordinate (EPIC), which is designed to study planetary weather systems. Their simulations were inspired by Earth’s high-pressure heat domes, which are long-lasting weather patterns influenced by smaller storms—similar to the Great Red Spot’s behavior on Jupiter.

The Role of Small Storms

The simulations revealed a fascinating detail:

• When smaller storms regularly merged with the Great Red Spot, they strengthened the storm and helped it maintain its size.
• In a separate simulation where these smaller storms were removed, the Great Red Spot gradually shrank over time.

This suggests that Jupiter’s shrinking Great Red Spot may simply be the result of fewer small storms feeding into it over the past two centuries.

What’s Next for the Great Red Spot?

While this discovery provides a compelling explanation, many questions remain. Scientists hope to use further modeling to understand:
✔ Why the Great Red Spot formed in the first place
✔ How its interactions with Jupiter’s deep atmosphere influence its longevity
✔ Whether the storm will eventually disappear or stabilize at a smaller size

With advancements in planetary science and space telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Juno spacecraft, we may soon gain even more insights into the solar system’s most famous storm. Until then, the Great Red Spot remains a fascinating reminder of Jupiter’s turbulent and ever-changing atmosphere.