The upper ionospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

The electron-density profiles of Jupiter's and Saturn's ionospheres are modeled with a 1D chemical diffusive model incorporating measured parameters of the neutral atmospheric structure. The Voyager RSS ion-density data are modeled by accounting for ion chemistry, the H3(+) recombination-rate coefficient, and H2O chemistry. Electron-density peaks for both ionospheres are 900-1000 km lower in the model than the measured values, and the role of vibrational excitation of H2 is discussed in converting H(+) to H2(+) and H3(+). Vertical ion flow is also considered which can maintain the plasma peaks under the conditions of electrical fields or horizontal neutral winds. An assumed influx of H2O molecules of a specific quantity is theorized to reproduce the measured values on Saturn when combined with a vertical plasma drift.