Longitudinal variability of methane and ammonia bands on jupiter: II. Temporal variations |
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| Authors: | William D Cochran Anita L Cochran |
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| Institution: | McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA |
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| Abstract: | A set of spectra was obtained of the Jovian Equatorial Zone central meridian 6190 Å CH4 and 6450 Å NH3 bands in February 1980, a year after the data reported by W.D. Cochran and A.L. Cochran ((1980) Icarus42, 102–110). These new data confirm the results of the previous study, and also permit a search for temporal, as well as longitudinal, variability of these molecular absorption bands. The new data set shows a correlation of NH3 and CH4 equivalent widths, as well as a lack of any strong correlation of red continuum reflectivity with equivalent width. These trends were also exhibited by the 1979 data. Longitude regions of larger or smaller than average equivalent width seem still to be evident a year later, with some slight drift in longitude. An increase in the average CH4 and NH3 equivalent width over the entire planet was detected during the one year interval. This is easily understood as the result of a global decrease in the mean altitude of the NH3 cloud. |
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