Study of the deep cloud structure in the equatorial region of Jupiter from voyager infrared and visible data

Abstract

High spatial resolution infrared and visible data obtained by the Voyager 1 spacecraft have been analyzed simultaneously to infer properties of the deep cloud structure of the Jovian troposphere in the 1- to 4-bar pressure range. Influence of the ammonia upper cloud layer, in the 5μm Jovian window, has been investigated through a cloud model derived from far ir Voyager IRIS measurements. The attenuation, computed with an anisotropic scattering formulation, is too weak to explain 5-μm measurements and provides evidence for existence of a cloud structure at deeper levels. The main conclusions derived from the present analysis are summarized below: (1) the deep cloud structure appears to be vertically associated with the NH 3 upper layer; (2) the ammonia cloud is mainly responsible for the visible appearance of the Jovian equatorial region; (3) the deep cloud structure exhibits a grey opacity in the 5-μm window; (4) coldest 5-μm spectra can be interpreted by the existence of a thick cloud layer located at levels in the 180–195°K temperature range. Implications of these results are discussed in conjunction with predictions of dynamical and thermochemical models. NH 4SH is shown to be a likely candidate for the main deep cloud constituent. An even deeper thick H 2O cloud may be present too, but should not be responsible for the observed spread in 5-μm brightness temperatures.