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New model of Saturn's ionosphere with an influx of water from the ringsA radically different model of Saturn's ionosphere is proposed in which water plays a major role as a minor constituent present by downward diffusion from an external source. The model ionosphere is a classical F2 type layer resulting from the photodissociative production of H(+) from H2 and rapid chemical loss by a series of charge exchange reactions with water. A planet-wide influx of about 4 x 10 to the 7th molecules/sq cm/s of water from the rings is consistent with the observed ionospheric electron densities. An enhanced influx of water occurs at latitudes (-38, +44 deg) connected magnetically at the inner edge of Saturn's B ring, where an electromagnetic erosion process takes place. The present-day influx at these latitudes may be as large as 2 x 10 to the 9th molecules/sq cm/s.
Document ID
19850033171
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Connerney, J. E. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Waite, J. H.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Space Science Laboratory, Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
November 8, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 312
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
85A15322
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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