Stratification and MHD effects on the vortices of the giant planets

Rotating convection is of fundamental importance in the dynamics of planetary interiors and in the formation of the large-scale vortices observed at the poles. Most work on this problem has focused on the case of a plane layer of non-magnetic fluid in the Boussinesq regime. However, considering the radial variations of the electrical conductivity in Jupiter's interior in relation to the depth of the vortices observed, the effect of magnetic fields on their formation and evolution remains unclear at large magnetic Reynolds numbers.
One aspect of the project will consist in exploring the role magnetic fields and stratification, in the anelastic regime, on the onset of thermal convection for rapidly rotating systems. The PGR will also investigate computationally the effect of weak magnetic fields at large magnetic Reynolds numbers on the formation and evolution of large-scale vortices. The computation will start with two sets of initial conditions: either convectively unstable atmospheres a rest or fully formed large-scale vortices emerging from turbulent rotating thermal convection in absence of magnetic fields.