Meridional Transport in the Stratosphere of Jupiter

Abstract

The Cassini measurements of C${}_2$H${}_2$ and C${}_2$H${}_6$ at $\sim$5 mbar provide a constraint on meridional transport in the stratosphere of Jupiter. We performed a two-dimensional photochemical calculation coupled with mass transport due to vertical and meridional mixing. The modeled profile of C${}_2$H${}_2$ at latitudes less than 70${}^{\circ }$ follows the latitude dependence of the solar insolation, while that of C${}_2$H${}_6$ shows little latitude dependence, consistent with the measurements. In general, our model study suggests that the meridional transport timescale above 5-10 mbar altitude level is $\gtrsim$1000 years and the time could be as short as 10 years below 10 mbar level, in order to fit the Cassini measurements. The derived meridional transport timescale above the 5 mbar level is a hundred times longer than that obtained from the spreading of gas-phase molecules deposited after the impact of Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet. There is no explanation at this time for this discrepancy.

11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. ApJL in press

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