High-resolution spectroscopy of Saturn at 3 microns: CH 4, CH 3D, C 2H 2, C 2H 6, PH 3, clouds, and haze

Abstract

We report observation and analysis of a high-resolution 2.87–3.54 μm spectrum of the southern temperate region of Saturn obtained with NIRSPEC at Keck II. The spectrum reveals absorption and emission lines of five molecular species as well as spectral features of haze particles. The ν 2 + ν 3 band of CH 3D is detected in absorption between 2.87 and 2.92 μm; and we derived from it a mixing ratio approximately consistent with the Infrared Space Observatory result. The ν 3 band of C 2H 2 also is detected in absorption between 2.95 and 3.05 μm; analysis indicates a sudden drop in the C 2H 2 mixing ratio at 15 mbar (130 km above the 1 bar level), probably due to condensation in the low stratosphere. The presence of the ν 3 + ν 9 + ν 11 band of C 2H 6 near 3.07 μm, first reported by Bjoraker et al. [Bjoraker, G.L., Larson, H.P., Fink, U., 1981. Astrophys. J. 248, 856–862], is confirmed, and a C 2H 6 condensation altitude of 10 mbar (140 km) in the low stratosphere is determined. We assign weak emission lines within the 3.3 μm band of CH 4 to the ν 7 band of C 2H 6, and derive a mixing ratio of 9 ± 4 × 10 −6 for this species. Most of the C 2H 6 3.3 μm line emission arises in the altitude range 460–620 km (at ∼μbar pressure levels), much higher than the 160–370 km range where the 12 μm thermal molecular line emission of this species arises. At 2.87–2.90 μm the major absorber is tropospheric PH 3. The cloud level determined here and at 3.22–3.54 is 390–460 mbar (∼30 km), somewhat higher than found by Kim and Geballe [Kim, S.J., Geballe, T.R., 2005. Icarus 179, 449–458] from analysis of a low resolution spectrum. A broad absorption feature at 2.96 μm, which might be due to NH 3 ice particles in saturnian clouds, is also present. The effect of a haze layer at about 125 km (∼12 mbar level) on the 3.20–3.54 μm spectrum, which was not apparent in the low resolution spectrum, is clearly evident in the high resolution data, and the spectral properties of the haze particles suggest that they are composed of hydrocarbons.