Acetylene formation on Jupiter - Photolysis or thunderstorms

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(79)90177-5· OSTI ID:5787733

Bar-Nun, A

The far UV photolysis of methane, diluted 1000 times with hydrogen, was studied experimentally at 300 and 200 K. Acetylene was found to be formed along with other hydrocarbons. Two models are discussed in view of the experimental results. In the case of Orton and Aumann's (1977) model, in which the acetylene extends down only to the 15 mbar level, the agreement between the rates of acetylene production and destruction by photolysis is quite good. If Orton and Aumann's model is incorrect, and the acetylene extends down all the way to the ammonia clouds, an additional source of acetylene is required. Such a source might well be thunderstorms in the Jovian clouds. If thunderstorms do operate in the Jovian atmosphere, the conversion efficiency of thermal energy into lightning energy on Jupiter should be only 24 times larger than in the earth's tropics. This difference is similar to the difference by a factor of 20 between the earth's tropics and midlatitude regions.

• Research Organization: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
• OSTI ID: 5787733
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 38; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACETYLENE
ALKYNES
ATMOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CLOUD COVER
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HYDROCARBONS
JUPITER PLANET
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION