Jupiter's Equatorial Plumes and Hot Spots: Spectral Mapping from Gemini/TEXES and Juno/MWR
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Fletcher, L. N.
•
Orton, G. S.
•
Greathouse, T. K.
•
Rogers, J. H.
•
Zhang, Z.
•
Oyafuso,F. A.
•
Eichstädt, G.
•
Melin, H.
•
Li, C.
•
Levin, S. M.
•
Bolton, S.
•
Janssen, M.
•
Mettig, H-J.
•
•
•
Abstract
We present multi-wavelength measurements of the thermal, chemical, and cloud
contrasts associated with the visibly dark formations (also known as 5-um
hot spots) and intervening bright plumes on the boundary between Jupiter's
Equatorial Zone (EZ) and North Equatorial Belt (NEB). Observations made by the
TEXES 5-20 um spectrometer at the Gemini North Telescope in March 2017
reveal the upper-tropospheric properties of 12 hot spots, which are directly
compared to measurements by Juno using the Microwave Radiometer (MWR), JIRAM at
5 um, and JunoCam visible images. MWR and thermal-infrared spectroscopic
results are consistent near 0.7 bar. Mid-infrared-derived aerosol opacity is
consistent with that inferred from visible-albedo and 5-um opacity maps.
Aerosol contrasts, the defining characteristics of the cloudy plumes and
aerosol-depleted hot spots, are not a good proxy for microwave brightness. The
hot spots are neither uniformly warmer nor ammonia-depleted compared to their
surroundings at p<1 bar. At 0.7 bar, the microwave brightness at the edges of
hot spots is comparable to other features within the NEB. Conversely, hot spots
are brighter at 1.5 bar, signifying either warm temperatures and/or depleted
NH3 at depth. Temperatures and ammonia are spatially variable within the hot
spots, so the precise location of the observations matters to their
interpretation. Reflective plumes sometimes have enhanced NH3, cold
temperatures, and elevated aerosol opacity, but each plume appears different.
Neither plumes nor hot spots had microwave signatures in channels sensing
p>10 bars, suggesting that the hot-spot/plume wave is a relatively shallow
feature.
Volume
125
Issue
8
Issn Identifier
2169-9097
Ads BibCode
2020JGRE..12506399F
Rights
open.access
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