Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983natur.303...50k&link_type=abstract
Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 303, May 5, 1983, p. 50-53.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
53
Atmospheric Electricity, Electrostatics, Radio Sources (Astronomy), Saturn Atmosphere, Electric Discharges, Ionospheric Electron Density, Planetary Ionospheres, Time Response, Voyager 1 Spacecraft, Saturn, Atmosphere, Electrostatic Properties, Discharges, Emissions, Pra, Planetary Radio Astronomy Experiment, Voyager Missions, Bursts, Radio Observations, Rotation, Periodicity, Analysis, Frequencies, Voyager 1, Characteristics, Lightning, Storms, Ionosphere, Density, Electrons, Nightside, Models
Scientific paper
Saturn electrostatic discharges (SED) monitored by the Voyager 1 were investigated to determine the source of the phenomena. Consideration has been given to two sources: the atmosphere at equatorial latitudes, where the cloud-top wind velocities correspond to the Saturn 10 hr 10 min rotation period; and the rings at 1.8 Saturn radius. The data were analyzed in terms of time and frequency, revealing a time-varying frequency, few detectable discharges outside of a low threshold, and the appearances and disappearances of the SED with no correlation with frequency. The periodicity of the SED episodes indicated that the source was occulted between revolutions, which ruled out the ring source. The SED signals were only detected on the dayside, suggesting the signals propagated through the dayside ionosphere. Diurnal variations in the ion densities could prohibit the signals from escaping on the nightside, a factor supported by detection of low frequency SED only during close passage of the Voyager. Ray tracing experiments have demonstrated that storm sources have emissions observable with the storm on the limb at the observed 30-40 MHz interval.
Connerney Jack E. P.
Desch Michael D.
Kaiser Michael L.
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