Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn

Details Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dps....39.1913m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #39, #19.13; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.446

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Using a one-dimensional version of the Saturn Thermosphere Ionosphere Model (STIM), we perform calculations of the ion and electron temperatures in the ionosphere of Saturn. There are no direct measurements of plasma temperatures in Saturn's atmosphere published to date, but they are often estimated from the topside plasma scale heights of radio occultation measurements of electron density. Based on Pioneer, Voyager, and now Cassini data, those estimates range from 625 K to 1700 K. Our preliminary calculations reproduce the lower level of that range, with an electron temperature peak value of just over 600 K at midlatitudes near dawn and dusk. Our calculations also suggest a diurnal variation of more than 200 K. Finally, our results allow an assessment of the reliability of estimating plasma temperatures from altitude profiles of electron density, which are also computed in STIM. By applying a range of background conditions (e.g., neutral atmosphere, solar flux) we explore the parameter space of possible variability of plasma temperatures on Saturn.
STIM development at Boston University was funded by the NASA Planetary Atmospheres program. LM acknowledges support from a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program fellowship, IM-W is supported by a British Royal Society Fellowship.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn 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 Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma Temperatures in the Ionosphere of Saturn will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1065312