Constraints On The Distribution Of Methane In Uranus' Atmosphere

Details Constraints On The Distribution Of Methane In Uranus' Atmosphere Constraints On The Distribution Of Methane In Uranus' Atmosphere

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.1133n&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #11.33; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.502

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As Uranus approaches its December 2007 equinox, we are treated to a unique opportunity to observe an atmosphere that has become much more active since Voyager's flyby near solstice, as well as a favorable viewing geometry in which the lines of constant latitude as seen fom Earth are straight and parallel.
Here we present analysis of newly obtained spectra of Uranus' visible and near-infrared methane bands. In September 2006, near-IR spectra of Uranus were taken using SpeX (R 1000-2000) at NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). We use these data to constrain the vertical abundance profile of methane, the most abundant component of the Uranian atmosphere following H2 and He. A spectral synthesis program developed at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center for the analysis of infrared spectroscopy was employed to determine the properties of a model atmosphere that best reproduce the methane features observed. These spectra are supplemented by high-resolution visible spectra taken with the ARC echelle spectrograph (R = 37,500) on the 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico, in October 2005 and August 2006.
The new activity seen in Uranus' atmosphere near equinox, such as the appearance of new cloud features (Hammel et al., Icarus 175, 284-288 [2005]), indicates that the Uranian atmosphere undergoes dramatic seasonal changes. The possibility of changes in the methane profile that have occurred since previous observations (Fink and Larson, ApJ 233, 1021-1040 [1979] and others) is discussed. We also take advantage of the unique observing geometry near Uranian equinox to examine any variations in the methane distribution with latitude.
This work was supported by NASA through award number NNG05GB86G.

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