skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune

Abstract

The Neptune stratosphere's methane photochemistry is presently studied by means of a numerical model in which the observed mixing ratio of methane prompts photolysis near the CH4 homopause. Haze generation by methane photochemistry has its basis in the formation of hydrocarbon ices and polyacetylenes; the hazes can furnish the requisite aerosol haze at the appropriate pressure levels required by observations of Neptune in the visible and near-IR. Comparisons of model predictions with Uranus data indicate a lower ratio of polyacetylene production to hydrocarbon ice, as well as a lower likelihood of UV postprocessing of the acetylene ice to polymers on Neptune, compared to Uranus. 65 references.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6920103
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Icarus; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 74
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; NEPTUNE PLANET; PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES; ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; METHANE; PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS; URANUS PLANET; ALKANES; ATMOSPHERES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CHEMISTRY; HYDROCARBONS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PLANETS; 640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena

Citation Formats

Romani, P N, and Atreya, S K. Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune. United States: N. p., 1988. Web. doi:10.1016/0019-1035(88)90113-3.
Romani, P N, & Atreya, S K. Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(88)90113-3
Romani, P N, and Atreya, S K. 1988. "Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(88)90113-3.
@article{osti_6920103,
title = {Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune},
author = {Romani, P N and Atreya, S K},
abstractNote = {The Neptune stratosphere's methane photochemistry is presently studied by means of a numerical model in which the observed mixing ratio of methane prompts photolysis near the CH4 homopause. Haze generation by methane photochemistry has its basis in the formation of hydrocarbon ices and polyacetylenes; the hazes can furnish the requisite aerosol haze at the appropriate pressure levels required by observations of Neptune in the visible and near-IR. Comparisons of model predictions with Uranus data indicate a lower ratio of polyacetylene production to hydrocarbon ice, as well as a lower likelihood of UV postprocessing of the acetylene ice to polymers on Neptune, compared to Uranus. 65 references.},
doi = {10.1016/0019-1035(88)90113-3},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6920103}, journal = {Icarus; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 74,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988},
month = {Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988}
}