Laboratory band strengths of methane and their application to the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Titan
AbstractAbstract
[en] Using our curve-of-growth measurements in the reduction of planetary observations, we find methane abundances in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn to be between a factor of 3 and 4 larger than previously accepted values based on the analysis of the 3ν3 band at 1.1 μ, while the amount on Titan is significantly less than that obtained from an analysis of 3ν3 with the assumption of a pure methane atmosphere. The present results, when combined with the 3ν3 analysis, suggest a surface pressure on Titan of at least 0.4 atm. Extrapolation of these laboratory data to the observations of Uranus and Neptune lead to single air mass column densities of 5.8 and 7.6 km-am of methane, respectively
Primary Subject
Record Type
Journal Article
Journal
Astrophysical Journal; v. 203(2); p. 541-551
Country of publication
Descriptors (DEI)
Descriptors (DEC)
Reference NumberReference Number
INIS VolumeINIS Volume
INIS IssueINIS Issue