First detection of far-infrared methane features in Saturn

Details First detection of far-infrared methane features in Saturn First detection of far-infrared methane features in Saturn

Jul 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997dps....29.1522d&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #29, #15.22; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 29, p.996

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

The Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) is one of four instruments on the ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite. The far-infrared spectrum of Saturn was measured on 16 July 1996, with spectral resolutions of 0.29mu m (43--90mu m) and 0.6mu m (90--197mu m). Weak methane features due to forbidden rotational transitions were detected in absorption against the hydrogen continuum at 106, 120 and 137mu m. The saturnian spectrum was modelled using a multilayer, line-by-line radiative transfer code. The feature at 106mu m is well-matched by a methane mole fraction of 1.5*E(-3) , while at 120 and 137mu m a mole fraction of 7.2*E(-4) gives a better fit. Assuming a solar C/H ratio of 3.58*E(-4) , the above values imply a saturnian C/H ratio of 1--2.1 times the solar value, which is less than the C/H ratio determined from studies of the 1.1mu m methane band (2--8 times solar). The discrepancy between the C/H ratios at the three different wavelengths is under investigation. We plan to repeat these observations with lower bias and longer integration time later in the mission. We will also observe these features with higher spectral resolution, from which we hope to determine the vertical distribution of tropospheric methane on Saturn.

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