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

Detailed Reference Information
Kliore et al. 2002
Kliore, A.J., Anabtawi, A., Herrera, R.G., Asmar, S.W., Nagy, A.F., Hinson, D.P. and Flasar, F.M. (2002). Ionosphere of Callisto from Galileo radio occultation observations. Journal of Geophysical Research 107: doi: 10.1029/2002JA009365. issn: 0148-0227.

An ionosphere has been detected at Callisto by the Galileo spacecraft, using the radio occultation technique. There were four usable occultations by Callisto, providing eight observation opportunities, all equatorial and near the terminator (entry and exit observations). Detectable electron densities were obtained from six of the eight opportunities. It was found that a detectable ionosphere was only present at the observed location when the trailing hemisphere of Callisto, which is the one that is impacted by the corotating plasma of Jupiter's magnetosphere, was illuminated by the Sun. Two of these observations yielded well-defined electron density profiles, having peak densities of 15,300 and 17,400 cm-3 at altitudes of 27.2 and 47.6 km and topside plasma scale heights of 29.6 and 49.0 km. Four different methods, based on both photoionization and electron impact ionization, were used to obtain estimates of the corresponding neutral densities at the surface. The various assumptions inherent in these methods required using a variety of parameters, (cross sections, rate constants, etc.) all with their associated uncertainties. It was rather surprising and reassuring to find that all of the methods used to estimate the surface neutral density gave very similar results in each of the eight cases. The estimated values fall between 1 and 3 ¿ 1010 cm-3, leading to an estimate for the column density of from 3 to 4 ¿ 1016 cm-2.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Solar System Objects, Jovian satellites, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Ionospheres--structure and dynamics, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Ionospheres--composition and chemistry, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
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