Measurements of the vertical structure of Jupiter's circulation have recently been made near the equator by the Galileo spacecraft probe. In other regions, planetary vortices exist selectively for a limited range of generic (exponential) vertical forms and can be used to probe the atmospheric structure theoretically. A study of vortex genesis with a three-dimensional numerical model produces reasonably realistic simulations of the Great Red Spot for both the generic and galilean forms, provided that Jupiter's winds do not extend much beyond a 500 km depth. However, the actual depth of the winds remains uncertain.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union