Formation of Jupiter's rings

An excellent review of the present understanding of the structure and formation of Jupiter's rings has recently been published by Burns et al. /1/. Therefore I will only summarize the basic ideas and open questions concerning the physical phenomena governing Jupiter's rings.     

The meteorology of Jupiter's atmosphere

Observations of the atmosphere of Jupiter by the imaging and infrared instruments on the Voyager spacecraft have been analysed to provide new insight into the meteorology of Jupiter. Like the Earth, the atmosphere of Jupiter appears to behave in a quasi-geostrophic manner. For a period prior to the Voyager 1 encounter, the analysis on imaging data indicated that the eddy momentum transfer into the mean zonal flow was a major driving mechanism for the motions. The jet structures are a barotropic phenomena, which the large scale belts and zones depend on for the baroclinicity of the motions and form a family of features. The initial analysis shows that the meteorologies of the Earth and Jupiter have more in common than was previously thought.     

Dust motion in Jupiter's tilted magnetic field

We outline an analytical method for studying the motion of charged dust particles that orbit an oblate planet having a tilted, offset, dipolar magnetic field. Our computed trajectories closely mimic previous numerical results; equilibrium dust potentials must be less then 10 volts or the Jovian ring would be thicker than observed. We identify several $\text{Lorentz resonances}$, where the periods of components of the Lorentz force, as seen by a reference particle moving in the equatorial plane, match the particle's orbital period; several seem to be near observed features of the Jovian ring system.     

The Io-control of Jupiter's decametric radiation: The Alfvén wave model

Geometrical considerations based on a conical sheet model of the observed DAM sources show that DAM is generated on field lines in the active longitude sector φ ～ 200 ± 90°. We show how Io excites Alfvén waves and calculate the propagation of these waves through the inhomogenous torus and magnetosphere. The power flux at high latitudes is largest at two longitudes which are seen as the B₁, B₂, A and C sources. We also discuss the parallel electric field accompanying the Alfvén wave pulses and show that at high latitudes electrons can be accelerated to energies in excess of 1000 eV. It is suggested that these current carrying electrons excite ion-cyclotron, upper and lower-hybrid electrostatic waves which may all play crucial roles in the generation of DAM.     

Interaction of Titan's atmosphere with Saturn's magnetosphere

The Voyager 1 measurements made during the Titan flyby reveal that Saturn's rotating magnetospheric plasma interacts directly with Titan's neutral atmosphere and ionosphere. This results from the lack of an intrinsic magnetic field at Titan. The interaction induces a magnetosphere which deflects the flowing plasma around Titan and forms a plasma wake downstream. Within the tail of the induced magnetosphere, ions of ionospheric origin flow away from Titan. Just outside Titan's magnetosphere, a substantial ion-exosphere forms from an extensive hydrogen-nitrogen exosphere. The exospheric ions are picked up and carried downstream into the wake by the plasma flowing around Titan. Mass loading produced by the addition of exospheric ions slows the wake plasma down considerably in the vicinity of the magnetopause.     

Saturn's equatorial haze

We have measured the amount of Raman scattering in Saturn's equatorial zone and polar regions near the central meridian at the wavelengths of the H and K Ca II solar lines, 3934 Å and 3969 Å. Approximately 2.1% of the sunlight in this wavelength range is Raman scattered out of this range in Saturn's equatorial zone. Modeling the aerosol particle distribution as a clear, Rayleigh- and Raman-scattering gas over a dense haze yields an H₂ column abundance of about 40 km-Amagats. Comparison with results obtained by Pioneer 11 suggests that either the equatorial haze was 2.5 times deeper at the time of these observations (May, 1981) than at the time of the Pioneer 11 flyby (Sept., 1979); or the haze particles are much more strongly polarizing in blue light than they are in red light.     

Saturn's E ring

The E ring is a loose collection of debris orbiting Saturn well outside the classical ring system. Compared to the classical ring system, the E ring is extraordinarily tenuous but occupies an enormous volume. The optical depth has a pronounced maximum near the orbit of Enceladus, which is therefore widely assumed to be the source of ring material. Optical properties of the ring suggest a collection of micron-sized spheroids whose composition is generally supposed to be water ice in accordance with the assumed Enceladus source.Apart from its unusual physical properties, the very existence of the E ring as a permanent feature of the Saturn system is problematical. The particles of the ring are susceptible to erosion by ion sputtering and outward transport by ion drag. Lifetimes against either of these processes in the presence of observed ion populations are estimated to be no more than a few thousand years, and it is not clear that Enceladus can replenish the ring particles continuously on such a time scale. It has thus been suggested that the E ring is a transient feature of the Saturn system, resulting from an episodic disturbance of Enceladus (e.g., a sizeable meteoroid impact or tectonic event) in the recent past. In any case, the E ring presently provides a convenient natural probe of magnetospheric transport processes because it presents a marginally significant cross section for the absorption of magnetospherically-trapped particles traversing its volume.     

Electrostatic discharges in Saturn's B-ring

The Voyager observations of electrical discharges in Saturn's rings strongly support earlier speculations on the role played by electrostatics, magnetic fields, and lightning phenomena in the primitive solar system. They also suggest conditions then by direct analogy rather than by extrapolating backwards through time from conditions now. The observed discharges show a pronounced 10^h periodicity, which suggests a source in Keplerian orbit at 1.80 ± 0.01 Saturn radii (1 R_S = 60,330 km). In that region, the B ring is thicker than optical depth 1.8 for about 5,000 km. At 1.805 ± 0.001 Saturn radii, however, the ring is virtually transparent for a gap of width 200 m. We conclude that a small satellite orbits Saturn at that radius and clears the gap. The gap edges must prevent diffusive filling of the gap by fine material which is especially abundant at this position in the rings and would otherwise destroy the gap in minutes. The discharges represent the satellite's interaction with the outer edge of the gap. Spoke formation may involve the interaction of ring material in the vicinity of the gap.     

Kinematics of Saturn's spokes

Voyager 2 images of Saturn's rings have been analyzed for spoke activity. More than 80 and 40 different spokes have been measured at the morning and at the evening ansa, respectively. Higher rate of spoke formation has been found at 145° ± 15° SLS and at 305° ± 15° SLS which persisted for at least 3 Saturn revolutions. Higher spoke activity (formation and growth in width) by more than a factor 3 has been observed over the nightside hemisphere of Saturn than over the dayside hemisphere. The age distribution (i.e. time from radial formation until observation, assuming Keplerian shear) of the leading (old) edges of spokes has its maximum at ～ 9,000 s and ～ 6,000 s for spokes observed at the morning ansa and at the evening ansa, respectively. The highest spoke age observed is ～ 20,000 s. The age distribution of the trailing (young) edges of spokes peaks at < 2,000 s at both ansae but has its mean at ～ 4,500 s and ～ 3,500 s, respectively. On the average the observed spokes grew in width for ～ 4,500 s at the morning ansa and for ～ 2,500 s at the evening ansa. The maximum time of growth in width was ～ 12,000 s.     

Formation of Saturn's spokes

The scattering properties of the spokes in Saturn's rings suggest that they consist of micron-sized dust particles. We suggest that these grains are elevated above the ring plane by electrostatic charging. We show that electrostatic levitation requires a sufficiently large plasma density near the rings. If the plasma density near the rings exceeds a few 10² cm^?3 levitation may occur at significant rates in the strong electric fields which exist in the wall-sheaths at the ring. Once the dust particles are elevated they drift relative to the plasma (except at synchronous orbit). This relative motion constitutes a current which causes a polarization electric field if the plasma is azimuthally inhomogeneous. The dense plasma will drift radially in response to this electric field and cause levitation of more dust particles as it moves along. It leaves a radially aligned trail of elevated dust particles—the spokes. One way of producing dense plasma is by meteor impact on the rings. We discuss the mechanisms of ring charging, electrostatic levitation and the currents in the plasma-dust mixture. We show that for reasonable conditions spokes of more than 10,000 km radial length can be formed in less than five minutes. We also show that under the same conditions the electrostatic levitation model predicts a dust grain population which peaks at a size of 0.6 microns and can reach optical depths of 0.1.     

Thermal modeling of Halley's comet

The comet thermal model of Weissman and Kieffer is used to calculate gas production rates and other parameters for the 1986 perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Gas production estimates are very close to revised pre-perihelion estimates by Newburn based on 1910 observations of Halley; the increase in observed gas production post-perihelion may be explained by a variety of factors. The energy contribution from multiply scattered sunlight and thermal emission by coma dust increases the total energy reaching the Halley nucleus at perihelion by a factor of 2.4. The high obliquity of the Halley nucleus found by Sekanina and Larson may help to explain the asymmetry in Halley's gas production rates around perihelion.     

Saturn's rings — Dynamical processes

The study of planetary rings, like the rings themselves, is dynamic and evolving. Despite the flood of new information on morphology and optical properties, we have very little direct evidence about what rings are, how they formed, and how they behave. Answers to such questions can only been obtained by building theoretical models and comparing their implications with past and future observations. A number of dynamical problems are briefly presented here, namely the physics of the particle collisions, the role of the resonances, the disc-satellite interactions, and the timescale of evolution. A short list of outstanding problems concludes this short review.     

Pluto's atmospheric bulk near perihelion

The detection of CH₄ frost on Pluto's surface implies a significant atmosphere for Pluto. Although Pluto's mass is small, about 7% of Triton's mass, the rapid escape (“blowoff”) of gaseous CH₄ can be prevented by the presence of a heavy gas mixed with the CH₄. The resulting slow escape (“Jeans escape”) of CH₄ can be accomodated by sublimation of the surface CH₄ frost so that an atmosphere exists in the steady state. A heavier gas must exist, otherwise the CH₄ frost would have sublimated away long ago because of solar heat and rapid blowoff of gaseous CH₄. Pluto is currently near perihelion where the CH₄ component of the atmosphere may be 500 times denser than at apehelion. Significant seasonal changes in the atmospheric bulk are therefore possible. Currently, the CH₄ column abundance on Pluto's sunlit hemisphere is on the order of 1 m-Amagat. The abundance of the heavier gas should be at least an order of magnitude greater but is uncertain.     

Stability and mass flow in Saturn's rings

Besides gravitational effects, interesting electrodynamical processes could also take place in the vicinity of the rings of Saturn. In part, this is because of the electrostatic charging of the ring particles by the magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma, and in part, the generation of impact plasma by meteoroid bombardment at the ring plane could lead to strong coupling between the rings and the ionosphere via a variety of current systems. The mass transport and angular momentum transfer in association with the ring-ionosphere coupling may cause quite large changes in the ring configuration over the age of the solar system. The presence of the sharp boundary between the B and the C rings perhaps is a good example. To highlight these new developments, we describe several of the electrodynamical mechanisms (with emphasis on their corresponding electric fields and current systems) which have been postulated to be of importance in determining the mass transport of the ring system. Further points are made that, besides mass exchange between the rings and the planetary atmosphere, the mass injection from the rings could also have significant effect on the mass and energy budget of the magnetosphere, maintenance of the E ring, the Titan hydrogen torus as well as aeronomic process in the upper atmosphere of Titan.     

Vegetation health: Nature's climate monitor

Observational data to effectively evaluate weather effects, which accumulate into current climate status, are available for affluent nations but often are inadequate elsewhere. Data acquired by satellite sensors in the visible-near infrared portion of the reflected solar energy spectrum have been accumulated daily since 1965 and for the earth's emitted radiance in the 11000 nm window since 1972. With the advent of the TIROS-N satellite in 1978, the solar reflected energy has been sensed in two separate channels and beginning with NOAA-6, the second vehicle of the TIROS-N family, these two channels became complementary rather than overlapping. This feature makes vegetative monitoring possible and now is being exploited to provide daily experimental products. These global vegetative index (GVI) arrays have been used to observe and map the effects of droughts, floods, adverse winds and thermal stresses on the global arable lands. These data and the related sea surface temperatures, both derived from satellite data, provide realistic measures of the global climate and can assist climatic forecasting.     

A facility for simulating Titan’s environment

As a result of measurements acquired by the Cassini–Huygens mission of Titan’s near surface atmospheric composition and temperature, Titan conditions can now be simulated in the laboratory and samples can subsequently be subjected to those conditions. Titan demonstrates an active hydrological-like cycle with its thick atmosphere, dynamic clouds, polar lakes of methane and ethane, moist regolith, and extensive fluvial erosive features. Unlike Earth, Titan’s hydrological-like cycle likely involves several constituents, primarily methane and ethane. Here the properties of a new Titan simulation facility are presented, including conceptual methodology, design, implementation, and performance results. The chamber maintains Titan’s surface temperature and pressure, and the sample cryogenic liquids undergoing experimentation are condensed within the chamber itself. During the experiments, the evaporation rates of the sample liquids are directly determined by continually measuring mass. Constituents are analyzed utilizing a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and vapor concentrations are determined using a gas chromatograph fitted with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). All pertinent data is logged via computer. Under laboratory conditions, the direct measurements of the evaporation rates of methane, ethane, and mixtures thereof can be achieved. Among the processes to be studied are the effects of regolith on transport from the subsurface to the atmosphere, the freezing point depression effects of dissolved nitrogen, and the solubility of various relevant organic compounds.     

Structure and properties of the Earth's plasmasphere

The widely used concept of the plasmapause as the last closed electric field equipotential in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere is oversimplified. The field aligned plasma motions are of substantial importance in the plasmapause formation and should be taken into account. Distributions of the main plasma parameters measured from the Prognoz-5 satellite are presented. The diurnal variations of the plasmapause height and the plasmasphere thermal properties are discussed.     

The variability of the sun's ultraviolet radiation

The intensity of continua and emission lines which form the solar UV spectrum below 2100 Å is variable. Continua and emission lines originating from different layers in the solar atmosphere show a different degree of variability. Coronal emission lines at short wavelengths are much more variable than continua at longer wavelengths which originate in lower layers of the solar atmosphere. Typical time-scales of solar UV variability are minutes (flare induced), days (birth of active regions), 27 days (solar rotation), 11 years (solar cycle) and perhaps centuries, caused by long-term changes of the solar activity. UV intensity variations have been determined by either absolute irradiance measurements or by contrast measurements of plages vs. the quiet sun. Plages are the main contributor to the solar UV variability. Typical values for the solar UV variability over a solar cycle are: <1% at wavelengths longer than 2100 Å, 8% at 2080 Å (continuum), 20% at 1900 Å (continuum), 70% at H Lyα, 200% in certain emission lines 1200 < λ < 1800 Å and more than a factor of 4 in coronal lines λ < 1000 Å. Plage models predict the variable component of the solar UV radiation within ±50%. Absolute fluxes are known within ±30%. Several efforts are underway to monitor the solar UV irradiance with a precision better than a few percent over a solar activity cycle.     

Particle erosion mechanisms and mass redistribution in Saturn's rings

A variety of physical processes can erode the surfaces of planetary ring particles. According to current estimates, the most efficient of these over the bulk of Saturn's rings is hypervelocity impact by 100 micron to one centimeter radius meteoroids. The atoms, molecules, and fragments ejected from ring particles by erosion arc across the rings along elliptical orbits to produce a tenuous halo of solid ejecta and an extensive gaseous atmosphere. Continuous exchange of ejecta between different ring regions can lead to net radial transport of mass and angular momentum. The equations governing this ballistic transport process are presented and discussed. Both numerical and analytic studies of idealized ring systems illustrate that ballistic transport can cause significant mass redistribution in the rings, especially near regions of high density contrast, such as the inner edges of the A and B rings. Ejecta exchanges can also alter local particle sizes and compositions and may produce pulverized regoliths at least several centimeters deep. The meteoroid erosion rate is so high that significant global torques and mass loss are possible on times shorter than a solar system life time.