Skip to main content

NH3, H2S, and the Radio Brightness Temperature Spectra of the Giant Planets

  • Conference paper
Comparative Planetology with an Earth Perspective
  • 84 Accesses

Abstract

Recent radio interferometer observations of Neptune enable comparisons of the radio brightness temperature (TB) spectra of all four giant planets. This comparison reveals evidence for fundamental differences in the compositions of Uranus’ and Neptune’s upper tropospheres, particularly in their ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) mixing ratios, despite those planets’ outward similarities. The tropospheric abundances of these constituents yield information about their deep abundances, and ultimately about the formation of the planets from the presolar nebula (Atreya et al., 1995).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Atreya, S.K., and P.N. Romani (1985) Photochemistry and clouds of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, in Recent Advances in Planetary Meteorology, G.E. Hunt ed., Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 17–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atreya, S.K., S.G. Edgington, D. Gautier, and T.C. Owen (1995) Origin of the Major Planet Atmospheres: Clues from Trace Species, this publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBoer, D.R., and P.G. Steffes (1994) Laboratory Measurements of the Microwave Properties of H2S under Simulated Jovian Conditions with an application to Neptune, Icarus 109, 352–366.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Pater, I., and S.T. Massie (1985) Models of the Millimeter-Centimeter Spectra of the Giant Planets, Icarus 62, 143–171.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Pater, I., and M. Richmond (1989) Neptune’s Microwave Spectrum from 1 mm to 20 cm, Icarus 80, 113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Pater, I. (1990) Models of the Millimeter-Centimeter Spectra of the Giant Planets, Ann.Rev.Astr. Astphy 28, 347–399.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Pater, I., P.N. Romani, and S.K. Atreya (1991) Possible Microwave Absorption by H2S Gas in Uranus’ and Neptune’s Atmospheres, Icarus 91, 220–233.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, M.J., and G.S. Orton (1993) The Near-Millimeter Brightness Temperature Spectra of Uranus and Neptune, Icarus 105, 537–547.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, A.W., D.O. Muhleman, and G.L. Berge (1989) High-Resolution Microwave Images of Saturn, Science 245, 1211–1215.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gulkis, S., M.A. Janssen, and E.T. Olsen (1978) Evidence for the Depletion of Ammonia in the Uranus Atmosphere, Icarus 34, 10–19.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstadter, M.D. (1993) Microwave Imaging of Neptune’s Troposphere, Bull.Am.Astr.Soc. 25 No. 3, 1077.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Killen, R.M., and F.M. Flasar (1995) Microwave Sounding of the Giant Planets, Icarus,in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindal, G.F., J.R. Lyons, D.N. Sweetnam, V.R. Eshleman, D.P. Hinson, and G.L. Tyler (1987) The

    Google Scholar 

  • Atmosphere of Uranus: Results of Radio Occultation Measurements With Voyager 2, JGR 92 No. A13, 14987–15001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindal, G.F. (1992) The Atmosphere of Neptune: An Analysis of Radio Occultation Data Acquired With Voyager 2, Astron.J 103 No. 3, 967–982.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Muhleman, D.O., and G.L. Berge (1991) Observations of Mars, Uranus, Neptune, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto at a Wavelength of 2.66 mm, Icarus 92, 263–272.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Spilker, T.R. (1995). NH3, H2S, and the Radio Brightness Temperature Spectra of the Giant Planets. In: Chahine, M.T., A’Hearn, M.F., Rahe, J., Solomon, P., Nickle, N.L. (eds) Comparative Planetology with an Earth Perspective. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1092-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1092-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4636-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1092-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics