Jupiter's aurora, ionosphere and thermosphere
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The advent of the Juno mission means there is renewed interest in the auroral processes observed at Jupiter. Current understanding of what drives the aurora at Jupiter has been enhanced by ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope observation campaigns. Recent observations have also revealed dramatic variations in the ionosphere and thermosphere of the planet away from the aurora. Unlike auroral studies, it is only infrared observations that help reveal such complex structures.
This PhD will focus on interactions between Jupiter's aurora, ionosphere and surrounding upper atmosphere, using a combination of imaging and spectroscopy to better understand this complex system. In part, the project will utilise data already taken from telescopes including Keck, VLT and IRTF.
As the Juno mission continues, data from the JIRAM instrument may be used as it becomes publicly available. A core component of the PhD will be to use new data and this will involve travel to Mauna Kea, Hawaii, to use one of the observatories there.
This PhD will focus on interactions between Jupiter's aurora, ionosphere and surrounding upper atmosphere, using a combination of imaging and spectroscopy to better understand this complex system. In part, the project will utilise data already taken from telescopes including Keck, VLT and IRTF.
As the Juno mission continues, data from the JIRAM instrument may be used as it becomes publicly available. A core component of the PhD will be to use new data and this will involve travel to Mauna Kea, Hawaii, to use one of the observatories there.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Thomas Stallard (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Mohammed Chowdhury (Student) |
Publications
Stallard T
(2019)
Local-time averaged maps of H 3 + emission, temperature and ion winds
in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Melin H
(2019)
The H 3 + ionosphere of Uranus: decades-long cooling and local-time morphology
in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Johnson R
(2018)
Mapping H 3 + Temperatures in Jupiter's Northern Auroral Ionosphere Using VLT-CRIRES
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Chowdhury M N
(2022)
Infrared observations of Saturn's aurorae, ionosphere and thermosphere
Chowdhury M
(2019)
Exploring Key Characteristics in Saturn's Infrared Auroral Emissions Using VLT-CRIRES: Intensities, Ion Line-of-Sight Velocities, and Rotational Temperatures
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chowdhury M
(2022)
Saturn's Weather-Driven Aurorae Modulate Oscillations in the Magnetic Field and Radio Emissions
in Geophysical Research Letters
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST/N504117/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2021 | |||
| 1935420 | Studentship | ST/N504117/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Mohammed Chowdhury |
| ST/R504890/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1935420 | Studentship | ST/R504890/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Mohammed Chowdhury |
| Description | We have discovered that Saturn's aurorae are driven by local atmospheric weather effects. This is something that was not expected to occur at Saturn and in the process we addressed one of the long-standing mysteries surrounding changes in the rotation rate of the ringed planet. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings of this research will force a rethink on how aurorae are generated at the gas giant planets and farther afield at exoplanets. As such, this research can be taken on by researchers working on any one of planetary aurorae, exoplanetary aurorae, and even the use of radio emissions to measure planetary rotation rates. |
| Sectors | Other |
| URL | https://le.ac.uk/news/2022/february/saturn-aurorae |
| Description | RAS Grant Application: Request for travel support to attend telescope training/observations & workshop |
| Amount | £1,375 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 05/2018 |
| Description | Modelling Saturn's ionosphere |
| Organisation | Boston University |
| Department | Centre for Space Physics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team works very closely with our collaborator at Boston. We generate the observational findings of the giant planet ionospheres that are then fed into his modelling work to predict and interpret the behaviour of the magnetosphere and ionosphere with greater validity. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborator at Boston has assisted in making observations of Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter using telescope facilities in Hawaii. His modelling work is also critically important in helping to understand our findings based on observations. This allows us to interpret our findings with more validity and advise the wider community on how our findings affect the magnetospheric interactions of these planets at large. |
| Impact | We have managed to list each other as co-authors on a handful of papers and we continue to draft observing proposals and carry out observations using telescope facilities together. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Observing Jupiter in the infrared |
| Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
| Department | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I have made observations of Jupiter's Great Red Spot which have been used in publications by my collaborator at JPL. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This collaborator has allowed us to share observing time when performing remote observations of the gas giants, in particular Jupiter. |
| Impact | We have collaborated on writing observing proposals for infrared observations of Jupiter primarily and also taken part in joint observations. Our work has also led to science meetings at the Royal Society. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Observing the Jovian and Saturnian ionospheres |
| Organisation | Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our research team is in continued involvement with the ground-based observational work being planned and carried out on the giant planet ionospheres. We provide observational support and also assist in the data handling/reduction and interpretation of findings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The work done by our collaborator at JAXA has fundamentally changed the way the ionosphere is viewed at Saturn. His work and continued findings help complement the research being done at Leicester and the implications of these contributions reach far and wide. |
| Impact | Observing proposals for exoplanets and the giant planets have been successful as a result of this ongoing partnership and future collaborations on other projects are also being set up as a direct result. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Understanding Jupiter's rotational temperatures |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have helped to provide support during observation runs with this particular collaborator and also aided in the interpretation of findings they have generated. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My collaborator has provided training for my own observing runs and also assisted in the interpretation of my work. I have also worked at outreach events with them. |
| Impact | There have been two publications resulting from this collaboration - one apiece for each of us. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Understanding Uranus' ionosphere |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have been helping to reduce and analyse data that my collaborators at Leicester are working on and I have also been involved in advising on possible directions for data reduction and developing the computational code needed to made the data fit for analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | My partners have helped to interpret the observational findings in my own work while also supporting with the writing up of observing proposals and assisting with the observing runs themselves. |
| Impact | We have had papers published in a Royal Society journal and numerous observing runs have both been carried out and are also being planned. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Ask a Space Expert Event at the Leicester City Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I supported an event co-organised by the National Space Centre which involved answering questions on all things space and my specific research area. This involved interacting with members of the public by striking up conversations with them and discussing what interests them about space and also mentioning my research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Astronomy Masterclasses at the Royal Observatory Greenwich |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | During my year working as an STFC Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, I was required to deliver multiple astronomy masterclasses and I engaged with almost 2,200 students over the course of the year. Each of these sessions included a section on my current area of research and the feedback returned to my line manager was always hugely positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Careers Talks for Space School UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Space School UK, based at the University of Leicester, laid on some science talks for their attendees. I signed up to speak and was able to talk in great detail about the research I carry out on a day-to-day basis in my role as a PhD student. There were numerous questions that were then fielded from the audience of college students who are considering Leicester as a possible undergraduate destination on this subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Professional Mentoring with Brightside Mentoring |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I am involved with online mentoring of sixth-form students and raising their aspirations for pursuing science careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://brightsidementoring.org/ |
| Description | STEM Ambassador Careers Pathway Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This activity has involved visiting numerous primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire to give career talks. These talks include a dedicated section on my current research activities as a PhD student. These talks are generally very well-received and teachers/careers teams at schools report back on how well students respond to the talks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | Talks at regional astronomical societies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I give multiple talks on my research at local astronomical societies to audiences of astronomy enthusiasts. The interest that is generated by the talks is always staggering as people are keen to find out more about Solar System science at large. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |