An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres

Details An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres

Aug 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992phdt.........4s&link_type=abstract

Ph.D. Thesis Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD.

Physics

Atmospheric Temperature, Planetary Temperature, Stellar Occultation, Triton, Ultraviolet Spectra, Uranus (Planet), Uranus Atmosphere, Temperature Profiles, Thermosphere, Ultraviolet Spectrometers, Voyager 2 Spacecraft

Scientific paper

In January 1986, the Voyager 2 Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) observed a stellar entrance and exit occultation and a solar occultation by Uranus. Temperatures inferred near the top of the atmosphere of Uranus from these occultations are much higher (872 K) than could be explained by solar extreme ultraviolet heating alone. One purpose of this thesis is to analyze the UVS stellar and solar occultation data at Uranus and to determine the best thermospheric temperature profile consistent with UVS occultation data. This analysis yields the first smooth thermospheric temperature profile for Uranus and significantly different results for the thermal structure than those obtained in preliminary work by Herbert et al. (1987). One may infer from the work of Herbert et al. that there are two heat sources, one at the 1 micro-bar level with an integrated heating rate of about 0.20 erg/sq cm/s and one near 10-4 micro-bar with an integrated heating rate of about 0.03 erg/sq cm/s. This analysis, however, yields one heat source between 3 x 10-5 and 6 x 10-7 micro-bar with an integrated heating rate of about 0.06 plus or minus 0.02 erg/sq cm/s micro-bar as the least squares best fit to all UVS occultation data. In contrast to preliminary work, the inferred temperature for the stellar entrance occultation (63.7 degrees S) is at least 45 degrees K cooler near 50 micro-bar than for the stellar exit occultation (69.7 degrees N), whereas at about 1 micro-bar the temperature contrast is near 30 degrees K. Voyager 2 observed a solar entrance and exit occultation at Triton in August, 1989. The same model atmosphere is inferred from the solar entrance occultation at 26 degrees N and the solar exit occultation at 44 degrees S. This atmosphere has a heat source at 500 km with an integrated heating rate referenced to the surface of 1.3 x 10(exp-3) erg/sq cm/s.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres 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 An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An analysis of the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer occultation data at Uranus and Triton: Inferring heat sources and model atmospheres will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1168502