R – Z view of the azimuthally averaged fields of our VSI-unstable disk simulations. Shown (from left to right) are the gas density normalized by its initial value, radial velocity (v_r), meridional velocity (v_θ), and azimuthal velocity deviations from Keplerian rotation (v_ϕ − v_Kep), and (from top to bottom) the simulation without an embedded planet, with a Saturn-mass planet (m_p = 0.3m_Jup), and with a Jupiter-mass planet (m_p = m_Jup). The black dashed lines in the first panel show the simulation buffer zones. The black dotted lines indicate the height at which Z ≈ 3H. The white circles show the radial location of the planets, where each circle’s diameter is set by the planet’s Hill sphere.