Jupiter's Climate Variability During the Juno Mission
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
University of Leicester planetary scientists are part of a worldwide campaign of Earth-based supporting observations throughout the Juno mission. Global infrared spectroscopic maps will be acquired at regular intervals using instruments mounted on NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) in Hawaii and ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, among others. These infrared spectra are the end product of light propagating through Jupiter's soup of atmospheric constituents (radiative transfer), so that the final spectrum can be used to directly measure atmospheric temperature, composition and cloud opacity via a technique called spectral inversion (or retrieval). Spectral modelling and inversion are common tools used throughout the fields of geophysics and astrophysics (including Earth observation and exoplanetary characterisation), ultimately providing the candidate with a tool kit of broad utility.
The resulting maps of temperature, wind, humidity, composition and clouds will reveal the meteorological conditions associated with phenomena observed by both Juno and the amateur astronomy community, such as the Great Red Spot, polar vortices, auroral hotspots and discrete wave activity. IRTF and VLT data from 2009-2015 are already available for this project, allowing the candidate to begin analysis immediately to understand the climate context at the start of the Juno mission. Depending on the types of discoveries revealed within these old and forthcoming datasets, the candidate would be free to choose to focus on dynamical studies of discrete features; the chemistry of the upper atmosphere; the physics of cloud formation; the meteorological forces powering belt/zone upheavals; or any other physical mechanism of relevance to planetary atmospheres. The same techniques will also be used to support Cassini's final orbits of Saturn through to the end of its mission in 2017, permitting a direct comparison of the physicochemical processes shaping these two giant planets.
The resulting maps of temperature, wind, humidity, composition and clouds will reveal the meteorological conditions associated with phenomena observed by both Juno and the amateur astronomy community, such as the Great Red Spot, polar vortices, auroral hotspots and discrete wave activity. IRTF and VLT data from 2009-2015 are already available for this project, allowing the candidate to begin analysis immediately to understand the climate context at the start of the Juno mission. Depending on the types of discoveries revealed within these old and forthcoming datasets, the candidate would be free to choose to focus on dynamical studies of discrete features; the chemistry of the upper atmosphere; the physics of cloud formation; the meteorological forces powering belt/zone upheavals; or any other physical mechanism of relevance to planetary atmospheres. The same techniques will also be used to support Cassini's final orbits of Saturn through to the end of its mission in 2017, permitting a direct comparison of the physicochemical processes shaping these two giant planets.
Organisations
Publications
Antuñano A
(2019)
Jupiter's Atmospheric Variability from Long-term Ground-based Observations at 5 µ m
in The Astronomical Journal
Antuñano A
(2018)
Infrared Characterization of Jupiter's Equatorial Disturbance Cycle
in Geophysical Research Letters
De Pater I
(2019)
First ALMA Millimeter-wavelength Maps of Jupiter, with a Multiwavelength Study of Convection
in The Astronomical Journal
Fletcher L
(2017)
Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt expansion and thermal wave activity ahead of Juno's arrival
in Geophysical Research Letters
Fletcher LN
(2018)
Jupiter's Mesoscale Waves Observed at 5 µm by Ground-based Observations and Juno JIRAM.
in The Astronomical journal
Melin H
(2018)
Assessing the long-term variability of acetylene and ethane in the stratosphere of Jupiter
in Icarus
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ST/N504117/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2021 | |||
1692849 | Studentship | ST/N504117/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | Padraig Donnelly |