The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere

Details The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere

Dec 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986apj...311.1058b&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 311, Dec. 15, 1986, p. 1058-1072.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

66

Abundance, Infrared Spectroscopy, Jupiter Atmosphere, Vertical Distribution, Water Vapor, Atmospheric Temperature, Ice Clouds, Spatial Distribution, Voyager Project

Scientific paper

The atmospheric transmission window between 1800 and 2250/cm in Jupiter's atmosphere was observed from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory and by the IR spectrometer (IRIS) on Voyager. The vertical distribution of H2O was derived for the 1-6 bar portion of Jupiter's troposphere. The spatial variation of H2O was measured using IRIS spectra of the Hot Spots in the North and South Equatorial Belts (NEB, SEB) and the Equatorial Zone and for an average of the North and South Tropical Zones. The H2O column abundance above the 4 bar level is the same in the zones as in the SEB Hot Spots, about 20 cm amagats. The NEB Hot Spots are desiccated by a factor of 3 with respect to the rest of Jupiter. For an average between -40 and +40 deg latitude, the H2O mole fraction, qH2O, is saturated for P less than 2 bars, qH2O = 4 millionths in the 2-4 bar range, and it increases to 3/100,000 at 6 bars. A similar vertical profile applies to the spatially resolved zone and belt spectra, except that H2O falls off more rapidly at P less than 4 bars in the NEB Hot Spots. A massive H2O cloud at 5 bars, T = 273 K is inconsistent with the observations. Instead, a thin H2O ice cloud would form at 2 bars, T = 200 K. The O/H ratio in Jupiter, inferred from H2O measurements in both belts and zones at 6 bars, is depleted by a factor of 50 with respect to the sun.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere 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 The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The abundance and distribution of water vapor in Jupiter's atmosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1121617