Models of the ISO 3- Reflection Spectrum of Jupiter
R.F. Knacke (Penn State Erie), T.Y. Brooke (Penn State Erie and JPL), D. Crisp (JPL), Th. Encrenaz, P. Drossart (Obs. Paris, Meudon), H. H. Feuchtengruber (ISO Center, Villafranca), Th. de Graauw (SRON, Gronigen)
Spectra of Jupiter obtained recently with the Infrared Space Observatory
show evidence for the signature of NH ice particles in the jovian
atmosphere. Thermochemical theory predicts that Jupiter's upper
atmosphere should contain NH ice, but until now it has been
difficult to find spectroscopic evidence of solid NH . To interpret
the new spectra, we constructed models of Jupiter's 2.7-3.2
reflection spectrum, including multiple scattering by spherical cloud
particles. Model atmospheres containing two cloud decks and NH gas
absorption best reproduce a sharp drop in Jupiter's reflectance longward
of 2.7 . The model upper cloud deck is located near the NH
condensation level at 0.6 bar. The lower cloud, which must be optically
thick, is at 1.4 bar, the altitude of a cloud detected by the Galileo
nephelometer. Inclusion of NH ice particles in the upper cloud
gives much improved agreement with the jovian ISO spectrum near 3 ,
primarily because of absorption by the broad 2.95 N-H stretch
vibration band of solid NH . NH ice particles with radius
10 and cloud visible optical depths of 1 give the best fit.
This is strong evidence for the long-sought spectral signature of NH
ice particles in Jupiter's atmosphere, although the uniqueness of the
fit has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. This research was
supported by NASA grants NAGW-3415 and NAG 5-3368 to Penn State Erie.