A Japanese probe orbiting Venus has observed especially strong winds over the planet's equator.

Scientists knew strong "super-rotation" winds blow at speeds tens of times that of Venus's rotation. They believed the strength of the winds was uniform regardless of latitude.

But researchers from Hokkaido University, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other organizations have overturned the belief. Their finding is based on infrared camera images taken by Japan's Akatsuki probe in July last year.

They say they observed violent winds over the equator blowing at around 320 kilometers per hour at altitudes of 45 to 60 kilometers. They say this jet stream is stronger than those at higher latitudes.