In 1979, the IRIS infrared spectrometers on the two Voyager spacecraft obtained over 1000 disk-resolved thermal emission spectra of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, Jupiter's three large icy satellites. This dissertation describes the first detailed analysis of this data set. Ganymede and Callisto subsolar temperatures are 10°K and 5°K respectively below equilibrium values. Equatorial nighttime temperatures are between 100°K and 75°K, Callisto and Europa being colder than Ganymede. The diurnal temperature profiles can be matched by 2-layer surfaces that are also consistent with the eclipse cooling observed from earth, though previous eclipse models underestimated thermal inertias by about 50%. Substrate thermal inertias in the 2-layer models are a factor of several lower than for solid ice. These are 'cold spots' on Ganymede and Callisto that are not high-albedo regions, which may indicate large thermal inertia anomalies. All spectra show a slope of increasing brightness temperature with decreasing wavelength, indicating local temperature contrasts of 10-50°K. Callisto spectra steepen dramatically towards the terminator, a trend largely matched with a laterally-homogeneous model surface having lunar-like roughness, though some lateral variation in albedo and/or thermal inertia may also be required. Subsolar Ganymede spectra are steeper than those on Callisto, but there is no steepening towards the terminator, indicating a much smoother surface than Callisto's. The spectrum slopes on Ganymede may indicate large lateral variations in albedo and thermal inertia. A surface with similar areal coverage of dark, very low thermal inertia material, and bright material with thermal inertia a factor of 2-3 below solid ice, fits the diurnal and eclipse curves, and (less accurately) the IRIS spectrum slopes. Europa spectra have very small slopes, indicating a smooth and homogeneous surface. Modelling of surface water ice migration gives a possible explanation for the inferred lateral inhomogeneities on Ganymede. Dirty ice surfaces at Jupiter are subject to segregation into high-albedo ice-rich cold spots and ice-free regions covered in lag deposits, on decade timescales. Ion sputtering and micrometeorite bombardment are generally insufficient to prevent the segregation. The reflectance spectra of Ganymede and Callisto may be consistent with this type of segregated surface.

An observational program was designed for systematic spatial and temporal monitoring of the Jovian atmosphere at several wavelengths chosen for their different absorptive properties. The weak broadband (5Å/pixel) CH₄ absorptions (6190 and 7270Å) probe the deep (2-4 bars) cloud layer while the stronger band at 8900Å probes the upper 400-600 mbars. The high resolution (~50mÅ/pixel) 3-0 H₂ quadrupole wavelengths probe to about 1-2 bars. The gradual increase in the measured equivalent widths of the H₂ quadrupole lines from the east to west limb is most likely indicative of a diurnal change in the vertical cloud structure. Such a variation is consistent with the properties of a convective layer driven by internal heat, with solar heat deposited at the top. The CH₄ data from the same time period was modelled for the south tropical zone. Since these absorptions are sensitive to several atmospheric layers it is difficult to separate the effects of the various cloud parameters on the [(I/F)(band)]/[(I/F)(cont)] values. There are no obvious limb to limb variations in these bands but several cloud parameters may be changing simultaneously, introducing compensating affects on the [(I/F)(band)]/[(I/F)(cont)] values. The two limbs may not, therefore, appear significantly different even if they are representative of substantially different cloud structures. The June 1983 H₂ data has been modelled at seven different latitudes and cloud structure differences are indicated. The average models representing the belt regions require somewhat thinner optical depths for the upper ammonia cloud (τ(cl) = 3-4.5) than the zones (τ(cl) = 5.5-6.5) or the equatorial region (τ(cl) = 6.5-7). These data also provide some constraints on the thermodynamic state of the hydrogen. A model atmosphere with only "normal" hydrogen (ortho-H₂ to para-H₂ of 3:1) is not able to fit both of the 3-0 lines simultaneously. Model atmospheres with all of the hydrogen in a state of equilibrium fit the two lines much better. Models with small amounts of disequilibrium hydrogen in the upper atmosphere also provide reasonable average fits to our H₂ data and cannot be easily distinguished from those that incorporate only equilibrium hydrogen at all levels or from those which incorporate "normal" in the top 300 mbars of the Jovian atmosphere.

Thèse--Faculté des sciences de Paris, 1865.

In 1979, Voyager I provided the first strong evidence for the existence of lightning on another planet. Two pictures taken while the spacecraft was in Jupiter's shadow reveal about three dozen luminous spots on the night side of the planet. After careful examination of these spots, we conclude that they are lightning flashes occurring somewhere within Jupiter's atmosphere. A search through the additional Voyager I and II images of Jupiter's night hemisphere failed to locate any additional lightning flashes. The lower limit for the planetary lightning rate on Jupiter is found to be 10⁻⁴ km⁻² yr⁻¹. It must be noted that the spacecraft could only detect lightning discharges at least 1000 times higher than typical terrestrial flashes. Furthermore, due to attenuation, any discharges occurring deep within the atmosphere could not have been imaged. Calculations suggest that the actual flash rate could be about 0.1 km⁻² yr⁻¹. Analysis of the lightning images reveals that the flashes group near 50°N latitude. High-resolution photographs of the lightning region made in daylight about 65 hours before the discovery images show long, light ribbon-like clouds. Almost every flash appears to be associated with one of these clouds. Calculations made with a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code that computes the luminosity distribution of the spot on the top of the ammonia cloud that is produced by a point source within the atmosphere indicate that the lightning production region is near the top of the lower cloud deck. The average optical energy radiated by a discharge is calculated to be about 10⁹ J. The total electrical energy is estimated to be about 3 x 10¹² J. Calculations made with a chemical equilibrium model show that lightning synthesis cannot account for the observed abundances of such disequilibrium species as CO, HCN, and C₂H₂.

No description available.

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Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975. / Bibliography: leaves 178-182. / x, 182 leaves ill

Thesis--University of Florida. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-208).

Spec. Litter.--Utrecht. / Includes bibliographical references.