We have discovered that the temperature in Jupiter's atmosphere increases as one moves inward toward the planet, and that the planet gives out more energy than it receives from the Sun. What is the cause of this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Kelvin-Helmholtz contraction is the gradual collapse of a contracting cloud of gas where the energy released by gravitational compression is equal to the energy radiated away from the cloud's surface. This gradual collapse is thought to be the cause of the increasing temperature of Jupiter's atmosphere as one moves inward toward the planet. This contraction also releases energy, which is believed to be the source of the excess energy radiated by Jupiter.

We Have Discovered That the Temperature in Jupiter's Atmosphere Increases