The near-IR spectrum of Titan modeled with an improved methane line list     

Jeremy Bailey  Linda Ahlsved 《Icarus》2011,213(1):218-232

We have obtained spatially resolved spectra of Titan in the near-infrared J, H and K bands at a resolving power of ∼5000 using the near-infrared integral field spectrometer (NIFS) on the Gemini North 8 m telescope. Using recent data from the Cassini/Huygens mission on the atmospheric composition and surface and aerosol properties, we develop a multiple-scattering radiative transfer model for the Titan atmosphere. The Titan spectrum at these wavelengths is dominated by absorption due to methane with a series of strong absorption band systems separated by window regions where the surface of Titan can be seen. We use a line-by-line approach to derive the methane absorption coefficients. The methane spectrum is only accurately represented in standard line lists down to ∼2.1 μm. However, by making use of recent laboratory data and modeling of the methane spectrum we are able to construct a new line list that can be used down to 1.3 μm. The new line list allows us to generate spectra that are a good match to the observations at all wavelengths longer than 1.3 μm and allow us to model regions, such as the 1.55 μm window that could not be studied usefully with previous line lists such as HITRAN 2008. We point out the importance of the far-wing line shape of strong methane lines in determining the shape of the methane windows. Line shapes with Lorentzian, and sub-Lorentzian regions are needed to match the shape of the windows, but different shape parameters are needed for the 1.55 μm and 2 μm windows. After the methane lines are modeled our observations are sensitive to additional absorptions, and we use the data in the 1.55 μm region to determine a D/H ratio of 1.77 ± 0.20 × 10⁻⁴, and a CO mixing ratio of 50 ± 11 ppmv. In the 2 μm window we detect absorption features that can be identified with the ν₅ + 3ν₆ and 2ν₃ + 2ν₆ bands of CH₃D.  相似文献   

Infrared spectroscopy of crystalline and amorphous diacetylene (C₄H₂) and implications for Titan's atmospheric composition     

Li Zhou  Ralf I. Kaiser  Alan T. Tokunaga 《Planetary and Space Science》2009,57(7):830-3003

New laboratory spectra of crystalline and amorphous diacetylene ice have been recorded in the range of 7000-500 cm⁻¹ (1.4-20 μm) to aid in the identification of solid diacetylene on Saturn's moon Titan. We have established that amorphous diacetylene ice is stable only at temperatures less than 70±1 K. With respect to observations on Titan, the best approach would be to utilize future space-based telescopes to search for the ν₄ (3277/3271 cm⁻¹) in absorption against the reflected light from the sun and the slightly weaker ν₈ absorption bands (676/661 cm⁻¹) in absorption against the continuum emission.  相似文献   

Eclipse reappearances of Io: Time-resolved spectroscopy (1.9-4.2 μm)     

Dale P. Cruikshank  Joshua P. Emery  Katherine A. Kornei  Emiliano d’Aversa 《Icarus》2010,205(2):516-527

We obtained time-resolved, near-infrared spectra of Io during the 60-90 min following its reappearance from eclipse by Jupiter on five occasions in 2004. The purpose was to search for spectral changes, particularly in the well-known SO₂ frost absorption bands, that would indicate surface-atmosphere exchange of gaseous SO₂ induced by temperature changes during eclipse. These observations were a follow-on to eclipse spectroscopy observations in which Bellucci et al. [Bellucci et al., 2004. Icarus 172, 141-148] reported significant changes in the strengths of two strong SO₂ bands in data acquired with the VIMS instrument aboard the Cassini spacecraft. One of the bands (4.07 μm [ν₁ + ν₃]) observed by Bellucci et al. is visible from ground-based observatories and is included in our data. We detected no changes in Io’s spectrum at any of the five observed events during the approximately 60-90 min during which spectra were obtained following Io’s emergence from Jupiter’s shadow. The areas of the three strongest SO₂ bands in the region 3.5-4.15 μm were measured for each spectrum; the variation of the band areas with time does not exceed that which can be explained by the Io’s few degrees of axial rotation during the intervals of observation, and in no case does the change in band strength approach that seen in the Cassini VIMS data. Our data are of sufficient quality and resolution to show the weak 2.198 μm (4549.6 cm⁻¹) 4ν₁ band of SO₂ frost on Io for what we believe is the first time. At one of the events (June 22, 2004), we began the acquisition of spectra ∼6 min before Io reappeared from Jupiter’s shadow, during which time it was detected through its own thermal emission. No SO₂ bands were superimposed on the purely thermal spectrum on this occasion, suggesting that the upper limit to condensed SO₂ in the vertical column above Io’s surface was ∼4 × 10⁻⁵ g cm⁻².  相似文献   

The Unusual Absorption Line Spectrum of Quasar SDSS J2220+0109     

Ji Tuo  Zhou Hong-yan  Wang Ting-gui  Wang Hui-yuan 《Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics》2013

We report the Balmer broad absorption lines (BALs) in the quasar SDSS J2220 + 0109 discovered from the SDSS data, and present a detailed analysis of the peculiar absorption line spectrum, including the He I* multiplet at λλ3189, 3889 arising from the metastable 2³s-state helium and the Balmer Hα and Hβ lines from the excited hydrogen H I of n = 2 level, which are rarely seen in quasar spectra, as well as many absorption lines arising from the excited Fe II* of the levels 7 955 cm⁻¹, 13 474 cm⁻¹ and 13 673 cm⁻¹ in the wavelength range 3100∼3300 Å. Ca II H, K absorption line doublets also clearly appear in the SDSS spectrum. All absorption lines show a similar blueshifted velocity structure of Δv ≈ − 1500 ∼ 0 km·s⁻¹ relative to the quasar's systematic redshift determined from the emission lines. Detailed analysis suggests that the Balmer absorption lines should arise from the partially ionized region with a column density of N_HI ≈ 10²¹ cm⁻² for an electron density of ne ∼ 10⁶ cm⁻³; and that the hydrogen n = 2 level may be populated via collisional excitation with Lyα pumping.  相似文献   

Titan's aerosols: Comparison between our model and DISR findings     

A. Bar-Nun  V. Dimitrov 《Planetary and Space Science》2008,56(5):708-714

Our model [Dimitrov, V., Bar-Nun, A., 1999. A model of energy dependent agglomeration of hydrocarbon aerosol particles and implication to Titan's aerosol. J. Aerosol. Sci. 30(1), 35-49] describes the experimentally found polymerization of C₂H₂ and HCN to form aerosol embryos, their growth and adherence to form various aerosols objects [Bar-Nun, A., Kleinfeld, I., Ganor, E., 1988. Shape and optical properties of aerosols formed by photolysis of C₂H₂, C₂H₄ and HCN. J. Geophys. Res. 93, 8383-8387]. These loose fractal objects describe well the findings of DISR on the Huygens probe [Tomasko, M.G., Bézard, B., Doose, L., Engel, S., Karkoschka, E., 2008. Measurements of methane absorption by the descent imager/spectral radiometer (DISR) during its descent through Titan's atmosphere. Planet. Space Sci., this issue, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2007]. These include (1) various regular objects of R=(0.035-0.064)×10⁻⁶ m, as compared with DISR's 0.05×10⁻⁶ m; (2) diverse low and high fractal structures composed of random combinations of various regular and irregular objects; (3) the number density of fractal particles is 6.9×10⁶ m⁻³ at Z=100 km, as compared with DISR's finding of 5.0×10⁶ m⁻³ at Z=80 km; (4) the number of structural units per higher fractals in the atmosphere at Z∼100 km is (2400-2700), as compared with DISR's 3000, and their size being of R=(5.4-6.4)×10⁻⁶ m will satisfy this value and (5) condensation of CH₄ on the highly fractal structures could begin at the altitude where thin methane clouds were observed, filling somewhat the new open fractal structures.  相似文献   

Spatially-resolved high-resolution spectroscopy of Venus 2. Variations of HDO, OCS, and SO₂ at the cloud tops     

Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky 《Icarus》2010,209(2):314-322

While CO, HCl, and HF, that were considered in the first part of this work, have distinct absorption lines in high-resolution spectra and were detected four decades ago, the lines of HDO, OCS, and SO₂ are either very weak or blended by the telluric lines and have not been observed previously by ground-based infrared spectroscopy at the Venus cloud tops. The H₂O abundance above the Venus clouds is typically below the detection limit of ground-based IR spectroscopy. However, the large D/H ratio on Venus facilitates observations of HDO. Converted to H₂O with D/H ≈ 200, our observations at 2722 cm⁻¹ in the Venus afternoon show a H₂O mixing ratio of ∼1.2 ppm at latitudes between ±40° increasing to ±60° by a factor of 2. The observations in the early morning reveal the H₂O mixing ratio that is almost constant at 2.9 ppm within latitudes of ±75°. The measured H₂O mixing ratios refer to 74 km. The observed increase in H₂O is explained by the lack of photochemical production of sulfuric acid in the night time. The recent observations at the P-branch of OCS at 4094 cm⁻¹ confirm our detection of OCS. Four distributions of OCS along the disk of Venus at various latitudes and local times have been retrieved. Both regular and irregular components are present in the variations of OCS. The observed OCS mixing ratio at 65 km varies from ∼0.3 to 9 ppb with the mean value of ∼3 ppb. The OCS scale height is retrieved from the observed limb darkening and varies from 1 to 4 km with a mean value of half the atmospheric scale height. SO₂ at the cloud tops has been detected for the first time by means of ground-based infrared spectroscopy. The SO₂ lines look irregular in the observed spectra at 2476 cm⁻¹. The SO₂ abundances are retrieved by fitting by synthetic spectra, and two methods have been applied to determine uncertainties and detection limits in this fitting. The retrieved mean SO₂ mixing ratio of 350 ± 50 ppb at 72 km favors a significant increase in SO₂ above the clouds since the period of 1980-1995 that was observed by the SOIR occultations at Venus Express. Scale heights of OCS and SO₂ may be similar, and the SO₂/OCS ratio is ∼500 and may be rather stable at 65-70 km under varying conditions on Venus.  相似文献   

Ground-based measurements of the methane distribution on Titan     

Paulo F. Penteado  Caitlin A. Griffith 《Icarus》2010,206(1):345-7996

Using spectra taken with NIRSPEC (Near Infrared Spectrometer) and adaptive optics on the Keck II telescope, we resolved the latitudinal variation of the 3ν₂ band of CH₃D at 1.56 μm. As CH₃D is less abundant than CH₄ by a factor of 50±10×10^-5, these CH₃D lines do not saturate in Titan’s atmosphere, and are well characterized by laboratory measurements. Thus they do not suffer from the large uncertainties of the CH₄ lines that are weak enough to be unsaturated in Titan. Our measurements of the methane abundance are confined to the latitude range of 32°S-18°N and longitudes sampled by a 0.04″ slit centered at ∼195°W. The methane abundance below 10 km is constant to within 20% in the tropical atmosphere sampled by our observations, consistent with the low surface insolation and lack of surface methane [Griffith, C.A., McKay, C.P., Ferri, F., 2008. Astrophys. J. 687, L41-L44].  相似文献   

Venus night airglow: Ground-based detection of OH, observations of O₂ emissions, and photochemical model     

Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky 《Icarus》2010,207(1):17-27

Venus nightglow was observed at NASA IRTF using a high-resolution long-slit spectrograph CSHELL at LT = 21:30 and 4:00 on Venus. Variations of the O₂ airglow at 1.27 μm and its rotational temperature are extracted from the observed spectra. The mean O₂ nightglow is 0.57 MR at 21:30 at 35°S-35°N, and the temperature increases from 171 K near the equator to ∼200 K at ±35°. We have found a narrow window that covers the OH (1-0) P1(4.5) and (2-1) Q1(1.5) airglow lines. The detected line intensities are converted into the (1-0) and (2-1) band intensities of 7.2 ± 1.8 kR and <1.4 kR at 21:30 and 15.5 ± 2 kR and 4.7 ± 1 kR at 4:00. The f-component of the (1-0) P1(4.5) line has not been detected in either observation, possibly because of resonance quenching in CO₂. The observed Earth’s OH (1-0) and (2-1) bands were 400 and 90 kR at 19:30 and 250 and 65 kR at 9:40, respectively. A photochemical model for the nighttime atmosphere at 80-130 km has been made. The model involves 61 reactions of 24 species, including odd hydrogen and chlorine chemistries, with fluxes of O, N, and H at 130 km as input parameters. To fit the OH vibrational distribution observed by VEX, quenching of OH (v > 3) in CO₂ only to v ? 2 is assumed. According to the model, the nightside-mean O₂ emission of 0.52 MR from the VEX and our observations requires an O flux of 2.9 × 10¹² cm⁻² s⁻¹ which is 45% of the dayside production above 80 km. This makes questionable the nightside-mean O₂ intensities of ∼1 MR from some observations. Bright nightglow patches are not ruled out; however, the mean nightglow is ∼0.5 MR as observed by VEX and supported by the model. The NO nightglow of 425 R needs an N flux of 1.2 × 10⁹ cm⁻² s⁻¹, which is close to that from VTGCM at solar minimum. However, the dayside supply of N at solar maximum is half that required to explain the NO nightglow in the PV observations. The limited data on the OH nightglow variations from the VEX and our observations are in reasonable agreement with the model. The calculated intensities and peak altitudes of the O₂, NO, and OH nightglow agree with the observations. Relationships for the nightglow intensities as functions of the O, N, and H fluxes are derived.  相似文献   

FT-IR measurements of cold C₃H₈ cross sections at 7–15 μm for Titan atmosphere     

Keeyoon Sung  Geoffrey C. Toon  Arlan W. Mantz  Mary Ann H. Smith 《Icarus》2013

We present absorption cross sections of propane (C₃H₈) at temperatures from 145 K to 297 K in the 690–1550 cm⁻¹ region. Pure and N₂-broadened spectra were measured at pressures from 3 Torr to 742 Torr using a Bruker IFS125 FT-IR spectrometer at JPL. The gas absorption cell, developed at Connecticut College, was cooled by a closed-cycle helium refrigerator. The cross sections were measured and compiled for individual spectra recorded at various experimental conditions covering the planetary atmosphere and Titan. In addition to the cross sections, a propane pseudoline list with a frequency grid of 0.005 cm⁻¹, was fitted to the 34 laboratory spectra. Line intensities and lower state energies were retrieved for each line, assuming a constant width. Validation tests showed that the pseudoline list reproduces discrete absorption features and continuum, the latter contributed by numerous weak and hot band features, in most of the observed spectra within 3%. Based on the pseudoline list, the total intensity in the 690–1550 cm⁻¹ region was determined to be 52.93 (±3%) × 10⁻¹⁹ cm⁻¹/(molecule cm⁻²) at 296 K; this value is within 3% of the average from four earlier studies. Finally, the merit of the pseudoline approach is addressed for heavy polyatomic molecules in support of spectroscopic observation of atmospheres of Titan and other planets. The cold cross sections will be submitted to the HITRAN database (hitran.harvard.edu), and the list of C₃H₈ pseudolines will be available from a MK-IV website of JPL (http://mark4sun.jpl.nasa.gov/data/spec/Pseudo).  相似文献   

Minimum estimates of the amount and timing of gases released into the martian atmosphere from volcanic eruptions     

Robert A. Craddock  Ronald Greeley 《Icarus》2009,204(2):512-151

Volcanism has been a major process during most of the geologic history of Mars. Based on data collected from terrestrial basaltic eruptions, we assume that the volatile content of martian lavas was typically ∼0.5 wt.% water, ∼0.7 wt.% carbon dioxide, ∼0.14 wt.% sulfur dioxide, and contained several other important volatile constituents. From the geologic record of volcanism on Mars we find that during the late Noachian and through the Amazonian volcanic degassing contributed ∼0.8 bar to the martian atmosphere. Because most of the outgassing consisted of greenhouse gases (i.e., CO₂ and SO₂) warmer surface temperatures resulting from volcanic eruptions may have been possible. Our estimates suggest that ∼1.1 × 10²¹ g (∼8 ± 1 m m⁻²) of juvenile water were released by volcanism; slightly more than half the amount contained in the north polar cap and atmosphere. Estimates for released CO₂ (1.6 × 10²¹ g) suggests that a large reservoir of carbon dioxide is adsorbed in the martian regolith or alternatively ∼300 cm cm⁻² of carbonates may have formed, although these materials would not occur readily in the presence of excess SO₂. Up to ∼120 cm cm⁻² (2.2 × 10²⁰ g) of acid rain (H₂SO₄) may have precipitated onto the martian surface as the result of SO₂ degassing. The hydrogen flux resulting from volcanic outgassing may help explain the martian atmospheric D/H ratio. The amount of outgassed nitrogen (∼1.3 mbar) may also be capable of explaining the martian atmospheric ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio. Minor gas constituents (HF, HCl, and H₂S) could have formed hydroxyl salts on the surface resulting in the physical weathering of geologic materials. The amount of hydrogen fluoride emitted (1.82 × 10¹⁸ g) could be capable of dissolving a global layer of quartz sand ∼5 mm thick, possibly explaining why this mineral has not been positively identified in spectral observations. The estimates of volcanic outgassing presented here will be useful in understanding how the martian atmosphere evolved over time.  相似文献   

Maintenance of equatorial superrotation in the atmospheres of Venus and Titan     

Xun Zhu 《Planetary and Space Science》2006,54(8):761-773

This paper extends Leovy's theory on Venus’ equatorial superrotation by analytically examining additional terms in the mean zonal momentum equation that stably balances the momentum source of pumping by thermal tides. The general analytical solution is applied to the atmospheres of both Venus and Saturn's moon Titan. The main results are: (i) Venus’ equatorial superrotation of 118 m s⁻¹ results primarily from a balance between the momentum source of pumping by thermal tides and the momentum sink of meridional advection of wind shear by horizontal branches of the Hadley circulation; (ii) no solution is found for Titan's stratospheric equatorial superrotation centered at the 1-hPa level; (iii) however, if the main solar radiation absorption layer in Titan's stratosphere is lifted from 1 hPa (∼185 km) to 0.1 hPa (∼288 km), an equatorial superrotation of ∼110 m s⁻¹ centered at 0.1-hPa could be maintained. Titan's equatorial superrotation results mainly from a balance between the momentum source of tidal pumping and the momentum sink of frictional drag.  相似文献   

Negative ion chemistry in Titan's upper atmosphere     

V. Vuitton  P. Lavvas  M. Galand  G.R. Lewis  A.J. Coates  J.-E. Wahlund 《Planetary and Space Science》2009,57(13):1558-662

The Electron Spectrometer (ELS), one of the sensors making up the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) revealed the existence of numerous negative ions in Titan's upper atmosphere. The observations at closest approach (∼1000 km) show evidence for negatively charged ions up to ∼10,000 amu/q, as well as two distinct peaks at 22±4 and 44±8 amu/q, and maybe a third one at 82±14 amu/q. We present the first ionospheric model of Titan including negative ion chemistry. We find that dissociative electron attachment to neutral molecules (mostly HCN) initiates the formation of negative ions. The negative charge is then transferred to more acidic molecules such as HC₃N, HC₅N or C₄H₂. Loss occurs through associative detachment with radicals (H and CH₃). We attribute the three low mass peaks observed by ELS to CN⁻, C₃N⁻/C₄H⁻ and C₅N⁻. These species are the first intermediates in the formation of the even larger negative ions observed by ELS, which are most likely the precursors to the aerosols observed at lower altitudes.  相似文献   

Archival HST study of novae. I. The Seyfert galaxy NGC 3627     

S. Alis  A.T. Saygaç 《New Astronomy》2012,17(2):101-107

A V-band nova search was carried out in NGC 3627 with archival Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 data which was obtained in the period between November 1997 and January 1998. A total of four novae candidates were discovered which corresponds to a global nova rate of R = 83.65 ± 7.58 yr⁻¹. Taking into account the K-band luminosity obtained from 2MASS (Jarrett et al., 2003) yielded a luminosity specific nova rate (LSNR) of ν_K = 9.60 ± 1.64 novae per year per 10¹⁰L_⊙,K. Excluding one of the candidates which may be a long-period variable leads to a LSNR of ν_K = 7.20 ± 1.23 novae per year per 10¹⁰L_⊙,K. These values are higher than other known nova rates for external galaxies except the Magellanic Clouds.  相似文献   

Transport of ionizing radiation in terrestrial-like exoplanet atmospheres     

David S. Smith  John Scalo  J.Craig Wheeler 《Icarus》2004,171(1):229-253

The propagation of ionizing radiation through model atmospheres of terrestrial-like exoplanets is studied for a large range of column densities and incident photon energies using a Monte Carlo code we have developed to treat Compton scattering and photoabsorption. Incident spectra from parent star flares, supernovae, and gamma-ray bursts are modeled and compared to energetic particles in importance. Large irradiation events with fluences of 10⁶-10⁹ erg cm⁻² at the conventional habitable zone can occur at a rate from many per day (flares from young low-mass parent stars) to ∼100 per Gyr (supernovae and gamma-ray bursts). We find that terrestrial-like exoplanets with atmospheres thinner than about 100 g cm⁻² block nearly all X-rays, but transmit and reprocess a significant fraction of incident γ-rays, producing a characteristic, flat surficial spectrum. Thick atmospheres (?100 g cm⁻²) efficiently block even γ-rays, but nearly all the incident energy is redistributed into diffuse UV and visible aurora-like emission, increasing the effective atmospheric transmission by many orders of magnitude. Depending on the presence of molecular UV absorbers and atmospheric thickness, up to 10% of the incident energy can reach the surface as UV reemission. For the Earth, between 2×10⁻³ and 4×10⁻² of the incident flux reaches the ground in the biologically effective 200-320 nm range, depending on O₂/O₃ shielding. For atmospheres thicker than ∼50 g cm⁻² in the case of pure Rayleigh scattering and ∼100 g cm⁻² in the case of O₂/O₃ absorption, the UV reemission exceeds the surficial transmitted ionizing radiation. We also discuss the effects of angle of incidence and derive a modified two-stream approximation solution for the UV transfer. Finally, we suggest that transient atmospheric ionization layers can be frequently created at altitudes lower than the equilibrium layers that result from steady irradiation and winds from the parent star. We suggest that these events can produce frequent fluctuations in atmospheric ionization levels and surficial UV fluxes on terrestrial-like planets.  相似文献   

Clouds, haze, and CH₄, CH₃D, HCN, and C₂H₂ in the atmosphere of Titan probed via 3 μm spectroscopy     

Sang J. Kim  T.R. Geballe  Regis Courtin 《Icarus》2005,173(2):522-532

Using synthetic spectra derived from an updated model atmosphere together with a continuum model that includes contributions from haze, cloud and ground, we have re-analyzed the recently published (Geballe et al., 2003, Astrophys. J. 583, L39-L42) high-resolution 3 μm spectrum of Titan which contains newly-detected bands of HCN (in emission) and C₂H₂ and CH₃D (in absorption), in addition to previously detected bands of CH₄. In the 3.10-3.54 μm interval the analysis yields strong evidence for the existence of a cloud deck or optically thick haze layer at about the 10 mbar (∼ 100 km) level. The haze must extend well above this altitude in order to mask the strong CH₄ lines at 3.20-3.50 μm. These cloud and haze components must be transparent at 2.87-2.92 μm, where analysis of the CH₃D spectrum demonstrates that Titan's surface is glimpsed through a second cloud deck at about the 100 mbar (∼ 50 km) level. Through a combination of areal distribution and optical depth this cloud deck has an effective transmittance of ∼ 20%. The spectral shape of Titan's continuum indicates that the higher altitude cloud and haze particles responsible for suppressing the CH₄ absorptions have a largely organic make-up. The rotational temperature of the HCN ranges from 140 to 180 K, indicating that the HCN emission occurs over a wide range of altitudes. This emission, remodeled using an improved collisional deactivation rate, implies mesospheric mixing ratio curves that are consistent with previously predictions. The stratospheric and mesospheric C₂H₂ mixing ratios are ∼¹⁰⁻⁵, considerably less than previous model predictions (Yung et al., 1984), but approximately consistent with recent observational results. Upper limits to mixing ratios of HC₃N and C₄H₂ are derived from non-detections of those species near 3.0 μm.  相似文献   

Methane evolution from UV-irradiated spacecraft materials under simulated martian conditions: Implications for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission     

Andrew C. Schuerger  Christian Clausen 《Icarus》2011,213(1):393-403

Fifteen organic and three inorganic compounds were tested for methane (CH₄) evolution under simulated martian conditions of 6.9 mbar; UVC (200-280 nm) flux of 4 W m⁻²; 20 °C; simulated optical depth of 0.1; and a Mars gas composition of CO₂ (95.3%), N₂ (2.7%), Ar (1.7%), O₂ (0.13%), and water vapor (0.03%). All three inorganic compounds (i.e., NaCl, CaCO₃, graphite) failed to evolve methane at the minimum detection level 0.5 ppm, or above. In contrast, all organic compounds evolved methane when exposed to UV irradiation under simulated martian conditions. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, pyrene, released the most methane per unit of time at 0.175 nmol CH₄ g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and a spectral reflectance target material used for the MER rovers and Phoenix lander released the least methane at 0.00065 nmol CH₄ cm⁻² h⁻¹. Methane was also released from UV-killed bacterial endospores of Bacillus subtilis. Although all organic compounds evolved methane when irradiated with UV photons under martian conditions, the concentrations of residual organics, biogenic signature molecules, and dead microbial cells should be relatively low on the exterior surfaces of the MSL rover, and, thus, not significant sources of methane contamination. In contrast, kapton tape was found to evolve methane at the rate of 0.00165 nmol CH₄ cm⁻² h⁻¹ (16.5 nmol m⁻² h⁻¹) under the UV and martian conditions tested. Although the evolution of methane from kapton tape was found to decline over time, the large amount of kapton tape used on the MSL rover (lower bound estimated at 3 m²) is likely to create a significant source of terrestrial methane contamination during the early part of the mission.  相似文献   

Saturn's magnetospheric interaction with Titan as defined by Cassini encounters T9 and T18: New results     

E.C. Sittler Jr.  R.E. Hartle  J.F. Cooper  C. Bertucci  K. Szego  D.G. Simpson 《Planetary and Space Science》2010,58(3):327-1125

We present new results of Cassini's T9 flyby with complementary observations from T18. Based on Cassini plasma spectrometer (CAPS) and Cassini magnetometer (MAG), compositional evidence shows the upstream flow for both T9 and T18 appears composed of light ions (H⁺ and H₂⁺), with external pressures ∼30 times lower than that for the earlier TA flyby where heavy ions dominated the magnetospheric plasma. When describing the plasma heating and sputtering of Titan's atmosphere, T9 and T18 can be considered interactions of low magnetospheric energy input. On the other hand, T5, when heavy ion fluxes are observed to be higher than typical (i.e., TA), represents the limiting case of high magnetospheric energy input to Titan's upper atmosphere. Anisotropy estimates of the upstream flow are 1<T_⊥/T_‖<3 and the flow is perpendicular to B, indicative of local picked up ions from Titan's H and H₂ coronae extending to Titan's Hill sphere radius. Beyond this distance the corona forms a neutral torus that surrounds Saturn. The T9 flyby unexpectedly resulted in observation of two “wake” crossings referred to as Events 1 and 2. Event 2 was evidently caused by draped magnetosphere field lines, which are scavenging pickup ions from Titan's induced magnetopause boundary with outward flux ∼2×10⁶ ions/cm²/s. The composition of this out flow is dominated by H₂⁺ and H⁺ ions. Ionospheric flow away from Titan with ion flux ∼7×10⁶ ion/cm²/s is observed for Event 1. In between Events 1 and 2 are high energy field aligned flows of magnetosphere protons that may have been accelerated by the convective electric field across Titan's topside ionosphere. T18 observations are much closer to Titan than T9, allowing one to probe this type of interaction down to altitudes ∼950 km. Comparisons with previously reported hybrid simulations are made.  相似文献   

The 2.9-4.2 micron spectrum of Saturn: Clouds and CH₄, PH₃, and NH₃     

Sang J. Kim  T.R. Geballe 《Icarus》2005,179(2):449-458

We have used synthetic spectra to analyze a medium resolution 2.9-4.2 μm spectrum of Saturn's temperate region observed at UKIRT using CGS4. The synthetic spectra include CH₄, PH₃, and NH₃ lines, for which mixing ratios were adopted from recent Cassini results. The observed absorption features in the spectrum are well accounted for by lines of these molecular species formed 22 +/− 8 km above the 1 bar pressure level at ∼610 mbar. The influence of optically thin haze particles at higher altitudes on the spectrum is not pronounced, with higher spectral resolution probably required to constrain the effects of haze in this wavelength region. Fluorescent line emission by CH₄ in its ν₃ and ν₃+ν₄−ν₄ bands, detected in the 3.2-3.5 μm region, originates between 400 km (∼0.06 mbar) and 800 km (∼0.01 μbar) above the 1 bar level, with peak contributions from the two major contributing bands at 550 km (∼3 μbar) and 700 km (∼0.1 μbar), respectively.  相似文献   

High-resolution spectroscopy of Venus: Detection of OCS, upper limit to H₂S, and latitudinal variations of CO and HF in the upper cloud layer     

Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky 《Icarus》2008,197(2):377-385

Venus was observed at 2.4 and 3.7 μm with a resolving power of 4×¹⁰⁴ using the long-slit high-resolution spectrograph CSHELL at NASA IRTF. The observations were made along a chord that covered a latitude range of ± 60° at a local time near 8:00. The continuous reflectivity and limb brightening at 2.4 μm are fitted by the clouds with a single scattering albedo 1−a=0.01 and a pure absorbing layer with τ=0.09 above the clouds. The value of 1−a agrees with the refractive index of H₂SO₄ (85%) and the particle radius of 1 μm. The absorbing layer is similar to that observed by the UV spectrometer at the Pioneer Venus orbiter. However, its nature is puzzling. CO₂ was measured using its R32 and R34 lines. The retrieved product of the CO₂ abundance and airmass is constant at 1.9 km-atm along the instrument slit in the latitude range of ± 60°. The CO mixing ratio (measured using the P21 line) is rather constant at 70 ppm, and its variations of ∼10% may be caused by atmospheric dynamics. The observed value is higher than the 50 ppm retrieved previously from a spectrum of the full disk, possibly, because of some downward extension of the mesospheric morningside bulge of CO. The observations of the HF R3 line reveal a constant HF mixing ratio of 3.5±0.5 ppb within ± 60° of latitude, which is within the scatter in the previous measurements of HF. OCS has been detected for the first time at the cloud tops by summing 17 lines of the P-branch. The previous detections of OCS refer to the lower atmosphere at 30-35 km. The retrieved OCS mixing ratio varies with a scale height of 1 to 3 km. The mean OCS mixing ratio is ∼2 ppb at 70 km and ∼14 ppb at 64 km. Vertical motions in the atmosphere may change the OCS abundance. The detected OCS should significantly affect Venus' photochemistry. A sensitive search for H₂S using its line at 2688.93 cm⁻¹ results in a 3 sigma upper limit of 23 ppb, which is more restrictive than the previous limit of 100 ppb.  相似文献   

Calculations of the thermochemistry of six reactions leading to ammonia formation in Titan's atmosphere     

Su-hong Ge  Xin-lu Cheng  Xiang-dong Yang  Wei Wang 《Icarus》2006,183(1):153-158

The thermochemical properties of the six reactions: (1) N₂+hν (solar EUV) → N⁺ + N(⁴S) + e⁻, (2) N⁺ + H₂ → NH⁺ + H, (3) NH⁺ + H₂ → NH⁺₂ + H, (4) NH⁺₂ + H₂ → NH⁺₃ + H, (5) NH⁺₃ + H₂ → NH⁺₄ + H, and (6) NH⁺₄ + e⁻ → NH₃ + H, were theoretically proposed by Atreya in 1986 and were cited in 2003 by Bernard who assumed that this chain reaction would lead to ammonia formation in Titan's atmosphere. The thermochemical properties of these six reactions have been calculated by means of the coupled cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) at the CCSD/cc-pvdz level, and the CCSD/6-311++g(3df,3pd) level, and G2 method. The geometries of the reactants and products of reactions have been optimized, the energies of reactions have been computed. The analysis of the results shows that: (I) The free energies of four reactions among these six reactions are negative. It means that these reactions, namely reactions (1)-(6) except reaction (2), can react spontaneously in Titan's low temperature environment. The converted temperatures of reactions (3) and (5) are 11881.7 and 4596.9 K, respectively. (II) Reaction (2) is an endothermic reaction, its converted temperature is 1797.6 K. When T<1797.6 K, reaction (2) cannot react forward spontaneously. The barrier of reaction (2) is 26.154 kcal mol⁻¹, which is probably too high to allow it to occur in the atmosphere of Titan. The rate for this reaction at 300 K has been calculated, and the value is k=4.16×¹⁰⁻⁷ s⁻¹. (III) The results of the three methods are more or less the same. So it is concluded that this chain reaction cannot be a pathway to lead to ammonia (gas phase) formation in Titan's atmosphere.  相似文献