EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Killen 1988
Killen, R.M. (1988). Resonance scattering by sodium in Mercury’s atmosphere I. The effect of phase and atmospheric smearing. Geophysical Research Letters 15. doi: 10.1029/88GL02002. issn: 0094-8276.

We present the dependence of the intensity in the sodium D1 and D2 lines on the planetary phase and position on the disk. Theoretical intensities are convolved with an atmospheric point spread function with FWHM of 0'.5 and 2'.0 for planetary phases 60¿ and 90¿. We show that although the absolute intensities are extremely dependent on seeing, the I(D2)/I(D1) ratio remains a reliable indicator of column abundance regardless of the seeing function. For a uniform distribution of sodium, limb brightening will be apparent for a seeing disk with FWHM of 0'.5 but will not be apparent for a FWHM of 2'.0. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1988

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, General or miscellaneous, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Atmospheres—composition and chemistry
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit