Study of the Ammonia ice cloud layer in the equatorial region of Jupiter from the infrared interferometric experiment on voyager |
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Authors: | André Marten Daniel Rouan Jean Paul Baluteau Daniel Gautier Barney J Conrath Rudolf A Hanel Virgil Kunde Robert Samuelson Alain Chedin Noëlle Scott |
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Institution: | Observatoire de Meudon, 92190 Meudon, France;Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA;Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, 91128 Palaiseau, France |
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Abstract: | Spectra from the Voyager 1 infrared interferometer spectrometer (IRIS) obtained near the time of closest approach to Jupiter were analyzed for the purpose of inferring ammonia cloud properties associated with the Equatorial Region. Comparisons of observed spectra with synthetic spectra computed from a radiative transfer formulation, that includes multiple scattering, yielded the following conclusions: (1) very few NH3 ice particles with radii less than 3 μm contribute to the cloud opacity; (2) the major source of cloud opacity arises from particles with radii in excess of 30 μm; (3) column particle densities are between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude smaller than those derived from thermochemical considerations alone, implying the presence of important atmospheric motion; and (4) another cloud system is confirmed to exist deeper in the Jovian troposphere. |
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