Stratospheric aerosols and C6H6 in Jupiter’s south polar region from JWST/MIRI observations
RODRÍGUEZ-OVALLE, Pablo
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
GUERLET, Sandrine
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539) [LMD]
Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace [IPSL (FR_636)]
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539) [LMD]
Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace [IPSL (FR_636)]
FOUCHET, Thierry
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
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Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
RODRÍGUEZ-OVALLE, Pablo
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
GUERLET, Sandrine
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539) [LMD]
Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace [IPSL (FR_636)]
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (UMR 8539) [LMD]
Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace [IPSL (FR_636)]
FOUCHET, Thierry
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
CAVALIÉ, Thibault
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] [LAB]
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac] [LAB]
VINATIER, Sandrine
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
LELLOUCH, Emmanuel
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
< Reduce
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics [LESIA]
Language
en
Article de revue
This item was published in
Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A. 2024-11, vol. 691, p. A51
EDP Sciences
English Abstract
Context. The polar atmosphere of Jupiter is significantly affected by auroral activity, which can induce both thermal and chemical differences compared to the rest of the atmosphere. In particular, auroral activity enhances ...Read more >
Context. The polar atmosphere of Jupiter is significantly affected by auroral activity, which can induce both thermal and chemical differences compared to the rest of the atmosphere. In particular, auroral activity enhances the production of various hydrocarbons, including benzene. Benzene could be a potential precursor to the formation of the stratospheric hazes.Aims. We investigated the spatial distribution of the benzene abundance across latitudes ranging from 50°S to 81°S and 17°S to 25°S. Additionally, we examined the chemical origin of polar aerosols and their latitudinal distribution.Methods. We employed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) observations to measure the benzene abundance based on its emission at 674 cm−1. Additionally, we examined the spectral dependence of the aerosol opacity within the 680–760 and 1380–1500 cm−1 spectral ranges, and mapped their distribution from 80°S–50°S.Results. At latitudes lower than 60°S, benzene is found to be up to ten times more abundant compared to lower latitudes. This enhancement of C6H6 is well mixed longitudinally and not particularly concentrated inside the auroral oval. Photochemical models predict a decrease in the abundance as we approach the mid latitudes, but fail at polar latitudes as they do not include ion-neutral chemistry. Moreover, we find that the southern polar atmosphere is enriched with aerosols at ~10 mbar. The optical depth of the aerosols increases at latitudes poleward of ~60°S, similar to the enhancement of C6H6. These aerosols have spectral features similar to the aerosols of Titan and Saturn, and the mass loading is of ~1.2 ± 0.2 × 10−4 g cm−2. Finally, we quantified the impact of these aerosols on the retrieved temperature structure, causing a decrease in the temperature at pressure levels deeper than 10 mbar.Conclusions. We find that the auroral precipitation produces abundant stratospheric aerosols, which must play an important role in the chemistry and dynamics of the planet.Read less <
English Keywords
planets and satellites: atmospheres
planets and satellites: aurorae
planets and satellites: composition
planets and satellites: gaseous planets
Origin
Hal imported