The Microwave Opacity of Ammonia and Water Vapor : Application to Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere of Jupiter

ISBN-13: 9783639125542 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 148 str.

Thomas R. Hanley

Opis

Measurements of water vapor (H2O) and ammonia (NH3) in the deep atmosphere of Jupiter are best accomplished via passive microwave emission measurements. For these measurements to be accurately interpreted, however, the hydrogen and helium pressure-broadened microwave opacities of H2O and NH3 must be well characterized, a task that is very difficult if based solely on theory and limited laboratory measurements. Therefore, accurate laboratory measurements have been taken under a broad range of conditions that mimic those of the Jovian atmosphere. These measurements, performed using a newly redesigned high-accuracy system, and the corresponding models of microwave opacity that have been developed from them comprise the majority of this work. The models allow more accurate retrievals of H2O and NH3 abundances at Jupiter, which will enable a greater understanding of the concentration and distribution of H2O and NH3 in the Jovian atmosphere. This will reveal much about how Jupiter and our solar system formed and how similar planets could form in other solar systems, even planets that may be hospitable to life.

O autorze

Thomas R. Hanley received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering
from Georgia Institute of Technology focusing on microwave
properties of planetary atmospheres. - Paul G. Steffes received
his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University and
is currently ECE Professor and Associate Chair for Research at
Georgia Institute of Technology.