Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.3902k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #39.02
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
We present a radiative transfer modeling analysis of clouds near the north polar hexagon of Saturn which have recently encountered sunlit conditions as northern winter wanes. The clouds were observed with the Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard Cassini on Dec. 17, 2008(UT) from near-nadir perspective. We analyzed visual-near-infrared spectral and imagery data of the daylit hexagon of Saturn, allowing us to derive the characteristics of the clouds as revealed by both visible and near-infrared spectra. As observed at a wavelength of 5 micron, clouds appear dark, as they are seen in silhouette against Saturn's deep-seated thermal glow. In such 5-micron images, the hexagon near 76 degrees N. latitude (planetocentric) consists of two distinctive cloud lanes separated by a less cloudy lane. The new sunlit views by shorter non-thermal wavelengths confirm this picture, showing as well ,the presence of cloudy lanes that are brighter than the less cloudy lane, due to the increased presence of reflective clouds there.
Radiative transfer modeling was performed on the near-IR and visible spectra of four distinct, localized clouds inside and outside the hexagon feature.
As well, we also derive the structures and optical properties of clouds located (1) within the polar cyclone in the 80-89 degree north latitude region and (2) outside both the hexagon and polar region, i.e., 68 - 74 degrees north latitude. We infer that all of these clouds are thick, extending from near 0.1 bar down to several bars because of the similar appearance of the clouds in both near-infrared and visible light. We also infer that the size of cloud particles is about 0.1 micron in radius. We present results detailing the morphological differences in cloud structures between clouds outside and within the hexagonal cloudy lanes.
Baines Kevin Hays
Brown Harvey R.
Buratti Bonnie Jean
Cassini/VIMS Science Team
Clark Roger Nelson
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