The structure of the stratospheric aerosol layer in the equatorial and south polar regions of Jupiter

DOI: 
10.1006/icar.1996.0237
Publication date: 
01/12/1996
Main author: 
Moreno F.
IAA authors: 
Moreno F.
Authors: 
Moreno F.
Journal: 
Icarus
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
124
Pages: 
632-644
Number: 
Abstract: 
A one-dimensional code to study the microphysical processes affecting aerosol particles in the jovian stratosphere and upper troposphere has been developed. The algorithms are based on those developed by Turco et al.(Turco, R. P., P. Hamill, O. B. Toon, R. C. Whitten, and C. S. Kiang 1979. J. Atmos. Sci. 36, 699-717) and include the effects of particle sedimentation, coagulation, eddy diffusion, and growth by heteromolecular condensation. A set of Hubble Space Telescope images in the near-UV was used to retrieve the aerosol distribution in the equatorial and south polar regions of Jupiter. The results obtained are consistent with the picture in which in the polar regions the aerosols are formed from auroral-related phenomena, while in the equatorial region the largest component of the aerosols would be those particles formed after condensation of hydrazine onto condensation nuclei. Concerning the charge of the particles, the particles in the south polar region must be considerably more charged than at equatorial latitudes. The model solutions give particles smaller than about 0.05 μm in radius at the equator, and 0.07 μm at the polar regions, with total optical depths of 0.3 and 1.3 at the equator and the south polar region, respectively, at 410 nm wavelength. The differences in the derived imaginary refractive indices reflect a compositional change in the aerosols at low and high latitudes. © 1996 Academic Press, Inc.
Database: 
WOK
SCOPUS
Keywords: