Dynamical Mixing in the Jovian Upper Troposphere
M. Allen (JPL/Caltech), Y.-T. Lee (Caltech), E. W. Weisstein (U. Va.), E. Serabyn (Caltech)
There is no known chemical source of phosphine in the Jovian upper
troposphere. Its presence in the upper atmosphere therefore is the result
of upward transport from the interior. The retrieval of the vertical
profile of phosphine in the upper troposphere from ground-based
submillimeter observations provides then an opportunity to derive the
magnitude of dynamical mixing in this altitude range. Using the
Caltech/JPL Jovian 1-D coupled chemistry/transport model, we find that
the phosphine measurements provide evidence for rapid mixing at
pressures greater than 330 mbar and a stagnant layer above. As the
measurements are globally-averaged, the model simulation also is for
the mean global atmosphere.