ELI5-Why does the storm on Jupiter never dissipate?
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Think about how far Earth hurricanes can travel over water compared with how quickly they weaken over land. Without the ocean to power and replenish them, hurricanes eventually burn themselves out. There’s no Florida on Jupiter to cut the GRS off from its fuel. Without landmasses to break storms, storms can stick around a lot longer in gas giants than on terrestrial worlds like Earth.
Also, the GRS can eat other spots. There was a baby red spot and it just gobbled it up. It’s unclear what effect “feeding” the GRS has had on keeping it alive, but that definitely happens.
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