Mid-Infrared Mapping of Jupiter's Temperatures, Aerosol Opacity and Chemical Distributions with IRTF/TEXES

Abstract

Global maps of Jupiter's atmospheric temperatures, gaseous composition and aerosol opacity are derived from a programme of 5-20 $\mu$m mid-infrared spectroscopic observations using the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES) on NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). Image cubes from December 2014 in eight spectral channels, with spectral resolutions of $R\sim 2000-12000$ and spatial resolutions of $2-4^{\circ }$ latitude, are inverted to generate 3D maps of tropospheric and stratospheric temperatures, 2D maps of upper tropospheric aerosols, phosphine and ammonia, and 2D maps of stratospheric ethane and acetylene. The results are compared to a re-analysis of Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observations acquired during Cassini's closest approach to Jupiter in December 2000, demonstrating that this new archive of ground-based mapping spectroscopy can match and surpass the quality of previous investigations, and will permit future studies of Jupiter's evolving atmosphere. We identify mid-infrared signatures of Jupiter's 5-$\mu$m hotspots via simultaneous M, N and Q-band observations, which are interpreted as temperature and ammonia variations in the northern Equatorial Zone and on the edge of the North Equatorial Belt (NEB). Equatorial plumes enriched in NH${}_3$ gas are located south-east of NH${}_3$-desiccated `hotspots' on the edge of the NEB. Comparison of the hotspot locations in several channels across the 5-20 $\mu$m range indicate that these anomalous regions tilt westward with altitude. Aerosols and PH${}_3$ are both enriched at the equator but are not co-located with the NH${}_3$ plumes. We find hemispheric asymmetries in the distribution of tropospheric PH${}_3$, stratospheric hydrocarbons and the 2D wind field. Jupiter's stratosphere is notably warmer at northern mid-latitudes than in the south in both 2000 and 2014. [Abridged]

44 pages, 21 figures, published in Icarus

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