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Detailed Reference Information
Parkinson et al. 2006
Parkinson, C.D., Stewart, A.I.F., Wong, A.S., Yung, Y.L. and Ajello, J.M. (2006). Enhanced transport in the polar mesosphere of Jupiter: Evidence from Cassini UVIS helium 584 Å airglow. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2005JE002539. issn: 0148-0227.

The eddy diffusion profile (K) in the auroral regions of Jupiter is not well determined. However, because of the intense auroral energy input, eddy mixing is expected to be much more effective and may be responsible for the enhancement of heavy hydrocarbon production in the polar region. In this paper, we estimate the increased eddy mixing in the Jovian auroral regions by comparing the Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observations during the 2000 Jupiter flyby with radiative transfer calculations of the He 584 ¿ airglow intensity. We derive a range for the eddy diffusion coefficients at the homopause (Kh) in the auroral regions to be at least 8 ¿ 106 cm2 s-1 and possibly greater than 4 ¿ 107 cm2 s-1. By comparison, equatorial Kh is on the order of 2 ¿ 106 cm2 s-1.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Airglow and aurora, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Planetary atmospheres (5210, 5405, 5704)
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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