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The atmosphere of Jupiter - An analysis of the Voyager radio occultation measurementsCoherently related S and X band signals of 2.3 and 8.4 GHz, respectively, which were transmitted from Voyagers 1 and 2 were used to probe the Jovian atmosphere. Height profiles of the gas refractivity, molecular number density, pressure, temperature, and microwave absorption in the troposphere and stratosphere were observed at latitudes ranging from 0 to 70 deg S. At 1000 mbar, the temperature was + or - 5 K and the lapse rate was equal to the adiabatic value of 2.1 K/km within the resolution of the measurements. The ammonia abundance in this region was 0.022 + or - 0.008%, which is in good agreement with values derived from cosmic abundance considerations. The tropopause at the 140 mbar level had a temperature of 110 K, which increased with increasing altitude, reaching 160 + or - 20 K in the 10 to 1 mbar region. Significant horizontal density variations were detected in the stratosphere, which implies a nonuniform temperature and aerosol distribution across the Jovian disk or across high- and low-pressure regions due to local atmospheric dynamics.
Document ID
19820028839
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lindal, G. F.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wood, G. E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Levy, G. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Anderson, J. D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sweetnam, D. N.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hotz, H. B.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Buckles, B. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Holmes, D. P.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Doms, P. E.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Eshleman, V. R.
(Stanford University Stanford, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
September 30, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 86
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
82A12374
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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