Gas composition of Jupiter derived from 5 micron airborne spectroscopic observations

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(86)90093-X· OSTI ID:6931652

Bjoraker, G L; Larson, H P; Kunde, V G

It is pointed out that Jupiter's 5-micron spectrum is a very diagnostic observational tool to probe the troposphere of this giant planet. A report is presented of abundance analyses of NH/sub 3/, PH/sub 3/, CH/sub 4/, CH/sub 3/D, CO, and GeH/sub 4/ in the 1- to 6-bar pressure range in Jupiter's troposphere. All the considered molecules have been previously detected in ground-based, airborne, and spacecraft observations of Jupiter. The contribution made by the present study is related to a self-consistent simultaneous determination of the abundances of all of these molecules at the same physical level in Jupiter's atmosphere using one high spectral resolution dataset and a radiative transfer model. It is found that most abundances deviate significantly from expectations based upon an atmospheric model assuming solar composition and chemical equilibrium. The D/H ratio in Jupiter is comparable to that measured in the interstellar medium. 82 references.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD; Arizona Univ., Tucson
• OSTI ID: 6931652
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 66; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
ALKANES
AMMONIA
ATMOSPHERES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
JUPITER PLANET
METHANE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SPACE
SPECTROSCOPY