Energy balance and plume dynamics in Triton's lower atmosphere

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(91)90182-S· OSTI ID:5866749

Yelle, R V; Lunine, J I; Hunten, D M ^[1]

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1. Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)

The present study of the thermal balance-affecting relationships among Triton lower atmosphere thermal conduction, eddy mixing, condensation, and radiative heating indicates that, while the temperature gradient is negative in the lower atmosphere, it becomes positive at higher altitudes due to the downward conduction of ionospheric heat. This temperature profile is essentially consistent with radio-occultation experiment data; the geyser-like plumes observed by Voyager suggest that the Trioton atmosphere's convective and conductive regions join near 10-km altitude, and that the values inferred for the eddy diffusion and heat-transport coefficients indicate a profile reminiscent of the earth's. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5866749
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Vol. 89; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
NEPTUNE PLANET
SATELLITE ATMOSPHERES
HEATING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MIXING
PLUMES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
VAPOR CONDENSATION
ATMOSPHERES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena