Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-07-29
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
44 pages, 11 figures
Scientific paper
Saturn was observed on 6-11 February 2002 using an Acousto-optic Imaging Spectrometer (AImS) to study Saturn's vertical cloud structure. The 3.67-m Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex was used. The high spectral resolution and wide spectral coverage of AImS (500 - 1000 nm) enabled us to sample the Saturnian atmosphere with high vertical resolution and to derive the wavelength dependence of aerosol properties. The model center-limb profiles were fit to the observed profiles in the equatorial region. Adopting four different cloud models with three aerosol phase functions, we varied up to nine free parameters to seek the best solution. The results of the simultaneous fits to nine different profiles around the 890-nm and 727-nm methane bands suggest that : 1) a cloud model having higher aerosol density in the lower troposphere (0.15 - 1.5 bar) is favorable, 2) the tropospheric cloud extends into the stratosphere, 3) the wavelength dependence of the upper cloud optical thickness indicates that the average aerosol size is larger than 0.7 - 0.8 micron, 4) the average aerosol size of the upper tropospheric cloud increases with depth from about 0.15 micron to between 0.7--0.8 and 1.5 micron, 5) the aerosol properties in February 2002 are similar to those observed during the 1990 equatorial disturbance.
Chanover Nancy Janet
Glenar David A.
Hillman John J.
Kuehn David M.
Simon-Miller Amy A.
No associations
LandOfFree
Vertical Structure Modeling of Saturn's Equatorial Region Using High Spectral Resolution Imaging 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 Vertical Structure Modeling of Saturn's Equatorial Region Using High Spectral Resolution Imaging, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vertical Structure Modeling of Saturn's Equatorial Region Using High Spectral Resolution Imaging will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-62