Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets

Details Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets

Oct 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986joat.conf....5c&link_type=abstract

In NASA. Goddard Inst. for Space Studies The Jovian Atmospheres p 5-18 (SEE N87-17598 09-91)

Physics

Jupiter (Planet), Para Hydrogen, Planetary Atmospheres, Saturn (Planet), Thermodynamic Equilibrium, Troposphere, Convective Flow, Frozen Equilibrium Flow, Iris Satellites, Neptune (Planet), Temperature Effects, Uranus (Planet), Voyager Project

Scientific paper

The thermodynamic behavior of the atmospheres of the Jovian planets is strongly dependent on the extent to which local thermal equilibration of the ortho and para states of molecular hydrogen is achieved. Voyager IRIS data from Jupiter imply substantial departures of the para hydrogen fraction from equilibrium in the upper troposphere at low latitudes, but with values approaching equilibrium at higher latitudes. Data from Saturn are less sensitive to the orth-para ratio, but suggest para hydrogen fractions near the equilibrium value. Above approximately the 200 K temperature level, para hydrogen conversion can enhance the efficiency of convection, resulting in a substantial increase in overturning times on all of the outer planets. Currently available data cannot definitively establish the ortho-para ratios in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune, but suggest values closer to local equilibrium than to the 3.1 normal ratio. Modeling of sub-millimeter wavelength measurements of these planets suggest thermal structures with frozen equilibrium lapse rates in their convective regions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets 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 Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Para hydrogen equilibration in the atmospheres of the outer planets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1738759