Are the giant planets fully convective?

Details Are the giant planets fully convective? Are the giant planets fully convective?

Dec 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994icar..112..337g&link_type=abstract

Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 112, no. 2, p. 337-353

Other

62

Astronomical Models, Convective Flow, Energy Transfer, Gas Giant Planets, Opacity, Absorption Spectra, Atmospheric Composition, Planetary Atmospheres, Temperature Gradients, Temperature Profiles

Scientific paper

All curret models of internal structure and evolution of the giant planets assume a convective and adiabatic stratification. The purpose of this work is to reexamine this hypothesis using the most recent available opacity data. Rosselannd opacities are calculated for density and temperature conditions relevant to the fluid molecular envelope of the giant planets and for the compositions inferred from atmospheric measurements. These opacities include the absorption by hydrogen, helium, water, methane, and ammonia. The contribution of metals to the electron abundance is also taken into account. The region investigated covers temperatures from 200 to 5000 K and densitites from 10-4 to 0.5 g/cucm. It is shown that giant planets of pure hydrogen and helium may not be fully convective for temperatures below approximately 4000 K. The opacity due to water and methane is very strong at low temperature levels but is insufficient to restore convection around approximatley 2000 K in Jupiter and Saturn; however, the lack of data precludes us from safely modeling the ammonia opacity at wavenumbers higher than 2000/cm. Our calculations also predict a radiative zone in Uranus but the uncertainty in the value of the opacity prevents any firm conclusion. The fluid enevelope of Neptune seems to be entirely convective. The possible influence on the absorption of heavy constituets other than CH4, NH3, and H2O is discussed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Are the giant planets fully convective? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Are the giant planets fully convective?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Are the giant planets fully convective? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1411354