Computer Science
Scientific paper
May 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983icar...54..296a&link_type=abstract
(Saturn Conference, Tucson, AZ, May 11-15, 1982) Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 54, May 1983, p. 296-308.
Computer Science
17
Atmospheric Circulation, Meteorology, Saturn Atmosphere, Zonal Flow (Meteorology), Atmospheric Models, Geopotential Height, Geostrophic Wind, Kilometric Waves, Voyager 1 Spacecraft, Wind Velocity, Saturn, Meteorology, Layers, Zones, Flows, Voyager Missions, Imaging, Infrared, Wavelengths, Radio Observations, Analysis, Temperature, Atmosphere, Structure, Condensation, Enrichment, Water, Abundance, Latitude
Scientific paper
Voyager imaging, infrared, and radio observations for Saturn have been recently interpreted by Smith et al. (1982) as an indication that the jet streams observed at the cloud tops extend to depths greater than the 10,000-bar level. This analysis assumes a maximum latitudinal temperature contrast of a few percent, a mean atmospheric rotation rate at depth given by Saturn's ratio period, and no variation with latitude of the bottom pressure level for the zonal flow system. These assumptions are not, however, firmly constrained by observation. The diagnostic analysis of plausible alternative configurations for Saturn's atmospheric structure demonstrates that a thin weather layer system (confined at mid to high latitudes to levels above 200 bar) cannot be excluded by any of the available observations. A quantitative estimate of the effects of moisture condensation (including the differentiation of mean molecular weight) suggests that these might provide the buoyancy contrasts necessary to support a thin-layer flow provided that Saturn's outer envelope is enriched approximately 10 times in water abundance relative to a solar composition atmosphere and strongly differentiated with latitude at the condensation level.
Allison Mark
Stone Peter H.
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