Nonisothermal Pluto atmosphere models

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(90)90154-2· OSTI ID:6769615

Hubbard, W B; Yelle, R V; Lunine, J I ^[1]

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1. Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)

The present thermal profile calculation for a Pluto atmosphere model characterized by a high number fraction of CH4 molecules encompasses atmospheric heating by solar UV flux absorption and conductive transport cooling to the surface of Pluto. The stellar occultation curve predicted for an atmosphere of several-microbar surface pressures (which entail the existence of a substantial temperature gradient close to the surface) agrees with observations and implies that the normal and tangential optical depth of the atmosphere is almost negligible. The minimum period for atmospheric methane depletion is calculated to be 30 years. 29 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6769615
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Vol. 84; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLUTO PLANET
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COOLING
HEATING
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
METHANE
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SOLAR RADIATION
ALKANES
ATMOSPHERES
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
STELLAR RADIATION
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena