Io's Asymmetric, Sublimation-Dominated SO2 Atmosphere

Details Io's Asymmetric, Sublimation-Dominated SO2 Atmosphere Io's Asymmetric, Sublimation-Dominated SO2 Atmosphere

May 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003dps....35.0206s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #35, #02.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 35, p.911

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Scientific paper

Io's SO2 atmosphere appears to be globally asymmetric, being up to ten times denser on the anti-Jupiter hemisphere. At least on that hemisphere, the atmosphere is probably dominated by sublimation of surface frost rather than direct volcanic supply. Evidence for this picture includes: (i) The concentration of the atmosphere at low latitudes, where frost temperatures are expected to be highest, as previously inferred from Lyman-alpha images of Io (Feldman et al. 2000, GRL 27, 1787); (ii) Our new HST UV long-slit spectra, which show that the anti-Jovian SO2 column density varies smoothly with latitude and/or local time, peaking near the subsolar point, and is not strongly concentrated over the Prometheus plume or other volcanos (Jessup et al. 2003, Icarus, submitted); (iii) The tenfold larger equatorial SO2 column density seen on the anti-Jupiter hemisphere in our new spectra, compared to previous disk-resolved UV spectroscopy of the Jupiter-facing side (McGrath et al. 2000, Icarus 146, 476); (iv) A correlation between longitudinal variations in the strength of 19 μ m SO2 gas absorption lines and the global distribution of optically-thick SO2 frost seen in the near-UV, with both peaking on the anti-Jupiter hemisphere; and (v) a decrease in anti-Jovian 19 μ m line strength between Nov. 2001 and Dec. 2002, quantitatively consistent with the expected reduction in SO2 vapor pressure due to frost cooling as Io and Jupiter approach aphelion.

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