Gas composition and vertical cloud structure of Jupiter's troposphere derived from five-micron spectroscopic observations
Spectroscopic observations of Jupiter at 5 microns were analyzed in order to derive the gas composition and vertical cloud structure for the 2 to 6 bar portion of the Jovian troposphere. Two infrared data sets were used. The first one consisted of high spectral resolution observations of Jupiter between -40 and +40 latitude acquired from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The second data set consisted of high spatial resolution measurements of Jupiter's belts and zones using the Voyager 1 Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer and Radiometer (IRIS). A spectrum synthesis program was used to calculate the emergent radiance from Jupiter's atmosphere between 1800 and 2250 cm . The temperature-pressure profile and spectroscopic line parameters for seven molecules were specified. Gas mole fractions were adjusted until the calculated spectrum agreed with the observations with error limits. Molecule hydrogen is an important absorber at 5 microns. Absorption coefficients were generated as functions of frequency and temperature. Unit optical depth at 5 microns due to H2 takes place between 5 and 7 bars in Jupiter's atmosphere. The airborne spectrum was used to infer the mole fractions of NH3, PH3, CH4, CH3D, CO, GeH4, and H2O for the 2 to 6 bar portion of Jupiter's troposphere.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6328414
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Gas composition of Jupiter derived from 5 micron airborne spectroscopic observations