STRATOSPHERIC IMAGES OF JUPITER DERIVED FROM HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS IN VOYAGER 1 AND 2 IRIS SPECTRA

Abstract

Spectroscopic data obtained by the Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) aboard Voyager 1 and 2 have been re-visited. Using the spectroscopic data and footprints of the IRIS aperture on the planet, we constructed images of the stratosphere of Jupiter at the emission bands of hydrocarbons including , and . Thermal emission from the hydrocarbons on Jupiter originates from a broad region of the stratosphere extending from 1 to 10 millibars. We averaged the data using a bin of 20 degrees of longitude and latitudes in order to increase signal-to-noise ratios. The resultant images show interesting wave structure in Jupiter`s stratosphere. Fourier transform analyses of these images yield wavenumbers 5 - 7 at mid-Northern and mid-Southern latitudes, and these results are different from those resulted from previous ground-based observations and recent Cassini CIRS, suggesting temporal variations on the stratospheric infrared pattern. The comparisons of the Voyager 1 and 2 spectra also show evidence of temporal intensity variations not only on the infrared hydrocarbon polar brightenings of hydrocarbon emissions but also on the stratospheric infrared structure in the temperate regions of Jupiter over the 4 month period between the two Voyager encounters. Short running title: Stratospheric Images of Jupiter derived from Voyager IRIS Spectra.