Question

### The Red Color of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

The Great Red Spot (GRS) is a massive storm in Jupiter's atmosphere. While the storm itself has persisted for centuries, the exact chemical processes responsible for its distinct reddish color remain a topic of debate. Two scientists propose different hypotheses.

Scientist 1
The GRS's red color is produced in the upper atmosphere through the photolysis of ammonium hydrosulfide ($NH_4SH$) gas by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. $NH_4SH$ is carried upward from lower cloud decks by convection. When exposed to solar UV light at the top of the GRS, $NH_4SH$ decomposes into ammonium polysulfides and sulfur allotropes (such as $S_8$). These sulfur-based compounds highly absorb ultraviolet and blue light while reflecting red light, giving the cloud tops their red appearance. This reaction occurs exclusively in the uppermost atmospheric layers where UV light is strong enough to break chemical bonds.

Scientist 2
The red color is generated by the radiolysis of phosphine ($PH_3$) and ammonia ($NH_3$) gases, driven by high-energy cosmic rays and magnetospheric electrons. Because these charged particles possess high energy, they penetrate deep into the middle and lower layers of the GRS clouds, initiating chemical reactions that UV light cannot. The radiolysis of $PH_3$ and $NH_3$ produces red phosphorus polymers ($P_4$). Strong upward convective currents within the GRS then transport these red polymers to the visible cloud tops.

According to the passage, which of the following statements best describes the core hypothesis of Scientist 2 regarding the chemical origin of the Great Red Spot's red color?