On the probable change of the radius and nature of aerosol particles in the deep layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere

Abstract

When analyzing the pressure dependences of the aerosol volume scattering coefficient calculated from the measurement data on the geometric albedo of Jupiter obtained in 1993 in the methane absorption bands at 619, 727, and 842 nm, the signs of probable changes in the parameters of aerosol particles in the deep atmospheric layers were detected and the first estimates of the magnitude of these changes were obtained. It has been found that, in the pressure interval from 4 to 14 bar, the effective radius of particles may increase twofold and more (larger than 0.73 μm) and the real part of the refractive index may grow by 10% (from 1.44 and higher) relative to the values of these parameters in the upper atmosphere. If we take into account these changes, we find no signs of aerosol deep in the atmosphere of Jupiter.