Observations of the 4 Micron Fundamental Band of H + 3 in Jupiter
Abstract
Emission lines of the nu2 fundamental vibration-rotation band of H3(+) have been detected in the northern and southern polar ionospheres of Jupiter. The recently discovered 2-micron overtone band of H3(+) is currently absent from the spectra of Jupiter's poles, as are lines of several other hot bands of H3(+) and 2-micron lines of H2, implying that physical conditions in Jupiter's auroral regions have changed considerably within a period of about 1 yr. The present observations provide added evidence for a large abundance H3(+) in localized zones of the Jovian atmosphere.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1086/185678
- Bibcode:
- 1990ApJ...351L..53O
- Keywords:
-
- Hydrogen;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Jupiter (Planet);
- Molecular Spectra;
- Planetary Ionospheres;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Auroras;
- Interstellar Chemistry;
- Vibrational Spectra;
- JUPITER;
- HYDROGEN;
- EMISSIONS;
- IONOSPHERE;
- POLAR REGIONS;
- INFRARED;
- SPECTRA;
- AURORAS;
- ABUNDANCE;
- ATMOSPHERE;
- WAVELENGTHS;
- ASTRONOMY;
- IONS;
- EARTH-BASED OBSERVATIONS;
- ANALYSIS;
- DENSITY;
- TEMPERATURE;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Jupiter;
- INFRARED: SPECTRA;
- LINE IDENTIFICATIONS;
- MOLECULAR PROCESSES;
- PLANETS: JUPITER