NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Correlating east-west asymmetries in the Jovian magnetosphere and the Io sodium cloudThree east-west intensity asymmetries in the Jupiter system that would appear to an earth observer in optical S+, extreme ultraviolet S++ and optical Na emissions are reviewed. The three asymmetries imply that some combination of the plasma torus number densities and electron temperature is, on the long-term average, larger west of Jupiter than east of Jupiter. A small east-to-west electric field, previously proposed to explain the ion intensity asymmetries, is also shown to provide a natural explanation for the sodium intensity asymmetry. A long-term average east-to-west electric field of about 3 mV/m and a corresponding west-to-east offset of about 0.16 Jupiter radii for the plasma torus at Io's orbital distance are implied. On a shorter time scale, the east-west electric field appears to be time variable and may be readily monitored from earth by observations of the sodium cloud.
Document ID
19880025670
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Smyth, William H.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Combi, Michael R.
(Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 14
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
88A12897
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-3949
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available