Methane photochemistry and methane production on Neptune

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(88)90113-3· OSTI ID:6920103

Romani, P N; Atreya, S K

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.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6920103
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Vol. 74
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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